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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0513.PDF
AUGUST 14, 1924 iJGHT THE Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Company are making their entry in the light 'plane field, or perhaps it would be more correct to say re-entry, as this firm built some years ago a low-power monoplane with A.B.C. engine, known as the Blackburn " Sidecar." Nothing much was ever heard of this machine, although it was, we believe, exhibited at Harrods. * * * THAT several more machines will be entered is almost certain. For instance, we believe that George Parnall will be represented by one or possibly two machines of Mr. Harold Bolas' design. The excellent performance of last year's " Pixie " would seem to promise well for a two-seater version. Vickers, Ltd., are almost sure to enter a machine also, and it was rumoured some little time ago that the Hawker Engineering Company was building a machine for the com petition. Altogether it seems fairly safe to assume that there will be in the neighbourhood of twenty machines at Lympne. It is greatly to be regretted that such well-known firms as the de Havilland Aircraft Company, Handley Page, Ltd., the Fairey Aviation Company, the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company and the English Electric Company will not be represented. * * * THE Air Ministry announcement relative to the formation of light 'plane clubs, given below, is of interest as the first official detailed statement to be made. It will be seen that the Air Ministry proposes to subsidise ten fight 'plane clubs during the next two years, provided the clubs themselves put up financial contributions of an equivalent amount. We think it a mistake to insist that the clubs shall make their own financial arrangements for aerodrome facilities, although if the Air Ministry grants are sufficiently large it will, perhaps, be all the better to be away from too much official supervision. Otherwise the A.M. might have assisted very materially by lending the club's hangars and landing facilities free of charge. The decision to make a grant for each member qualifying for his (or her) licence is one to be commended, as it will tend to encourage the taking out of private pilot's licences. Altogether the announcement is encouraging, and if the financial and other assistance is really forthcoming there should be little difficulty in getting started. * * * MR. F. P. FRAPER, of 32, Belvoir Road, East Dulwich, London, S.E. 22, is anxious to secure the co-operation of someone interested in the construction of a man-propelled machine which he has started to build, but which he is now, mainly owing to lack of funds, unable to complete. The machine is illustrated herewith, and is a biplane in which the top plane is fixed, while the lower plane can be given a " beating " movement, as its spars work in guides in the fuselage sides. Mr. Fraper has been experimenting along these lines for several years, and he informs us that in com parative tests with rubber-driven models he got one incor porating the beating wing to fly three times as long as one with a propeller driven by exactly the same amount of rubber, That it will be possible to fly with " one man power " still remains to be proved, but, at any rate, Mr. Fraper seems to have proved that such a machine can be made to fly and be kept under control. When the lower wing is kept stationary the machine becomes, of course, a normal biplane glider. * * * THE Tour de France des Avionnettes having dwindled to a one-man affair, there is nothing to report except the fact that Drouhin, on his Farman monoplane with three-cylinder Anzani engine, successfully completed the circuit, and arrived at the Buc aerodrome on schedule time on August 10, having covered the entire circuit without mishap, in spite of extremely unfavourable weather conditions. At the moment it is not known whether he will be awarded all the prizes, or only the stage, etc., first prizes. In any case, he should be doing very well out of his fortnight's work. <•> <$> <•> <$> LIGHT AEROPLANE FLYING CLUBS THE Air Ministry announces that the Air Council have been greatly impressed with the aeronautical possibilities opened up by the development of the light aeroplane, in which this country leads the way, and in addition to offering prizes for a competition, open to two-seater light aeroplanes, which will be held at Lympne next month, they are anxious that full advantage should be secured to the country from the progress which is being made with this type of aircraft. The Air Council have reached the conclusion that these advantages can best be secured by encouraging, with the help of county and municipal authorities, the formation of light aeroplane clubs throughout the country, and they are now prepared to assist financially, for a period of two years, the establishment of ten Light Aeroplane Flying Clubs whose constitution is approved. In the first instance it is proposed to endeavour to secure the formation of such clubs in the leading commercial centres of the country, and an Air Ministry representative will shortly visit likely centres with a view to discussing the details of the scheme which has been prepared with the local authorities and hearing their views on the subject. Under the scheme the Air Ministry proposes to make to each club an initial grant, suitably secured, for the provision of approved types of light aeroplanes selected by the club, and an annual grant for two years towards the expenses of maintenance and the purchase of material and spares. The club will be required to put up financial or other contributions to, at least, an equivalent amount, and to insure against loss or damage to equipment provided out of funds supplied by the Air Ministry. The club will be required to make its own financial arrange ments for suitable aerodrome facilities and the necessary shed accommodation, and to employ one or more qualified air pilot instructors and ground engineers. The club will be responsible for the management of the undertaking and for the maintenance of the aircraft, but periodic inspection will be undertaken by the Air Ministry. The Air Ministry will also make a grant to each club in respect of each member who qualifies for the issue of a private pilot's licence on club aircraft. The possibility of putting this scheme into operation at some date next year depends on the measure of success attained by the aircraft entered for the Government .compe tition for two-seater light aeroplanes, referred to above. So far as the London area is concerned the Royal Aero Club has undertaken to submit proposals ; any inquiries re the Light Aeroplane Club (London district) should be addressed to : Secretary, Royal Aero Club, 3, Clifford Street, W. 1. <$> <S> <•> <$> AERONAUTICAL PRINTS AND DRAWINGS* THERE are quite a number of people who are quite unaware of the fact that man's effort in aeronautics met with varying degrees of practical success as far back as 140 years ago, and that during the first half of this period a considerable number of free balloon flights were accomplished. Thus an illustrated record of these early attempts should prove to be of great interest to many, and such a record is now available in " Aeronautical Prints and Drawings," by Lieut.-Col. W. Lockwood Marsh. Apart from the technical interest, however, this work is also of particular value as a record of some of the large number of interesting, and in many cases scarce, prints and engravings dealing with " aerostation " that were produced * " Aeronautical Prints and Drawings," bv Lieut.-Col. W. Lockwood Marsh, O.B.E., M.A., LL.B., published by Halton and Truscott-Smith, Ltd., Haymarket, S.W. 1. £3 3s. during this early period. From the print collector's point of view, therefore, this volume should be particularly welcome. It contains some 87 reproductions—some in colour—of a selection of drawings and engravings depicting the chief aeronautical ascents and projects, together with a few' portraits, which were a feature during the latter part of the eighteenth and the first half of the nineteenth century. In addition to the plates—which are beautifully reproduced —Lieut.-Col. Lockwood Marsh gives an excellent and interest ing survey on these early records of aeronautics, whilst there is a foreword by Major-General Sir Frederick H. Sykes. As Sir Frederick truly states in his foreword, " this book will be found to fill a real gap, not merely in aeronautics but, indeed, in the literature of art. . . . The subject is one which has been entirely neglected in this country up to the present, and only covered to a very partial extent elsewhere." 513
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