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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0586.PDF
SEPTEMBER 25, 1924 TVOmTOIIGHI'llANE GMPEHUCNSS ATLYMPNE BRIEF SUMMARY OF PRIZES AND REGULATIONS THE competitions for two-seater light 'planes, which commence on Monday of next week, September 29, and last till October 4, are a direct result of an offer, by the British Air Ministry, of prizes totalling £3,000 for the best performance in the competitions, the regulations having been drawn up by a Committee of the Royal Aero Club, upon which representatives of the Air Ministry were present. The trials are being held under the competition rules of the Royal Aero Club, in whose hands is the entire organisation of the meeting. In addition to the main Air Ministry prizes, several bodies and individuals have offered substantial encouragement in the form of money prizes, details of which will be found below. The object of the Air Ministry was the production of machines suitable for school work. Prizes to the following amounts are being offered : £3,000 presented by the Air Council ; £500 by the Duke of Suther- innn 900; 800! 700: 60ft 500: 400: 300; 20CX 3 #$ <£ # # # • 4-4>^Sto 4 2 < Z // M r f / / / 7//// w V '/// w W w V /// //// //// / //// />/// t/ /// 77/ wfo 5PEEC / // '//// )RANGE ;/// / / / M.P.H. O 35 40 45 50 55 6( iti 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 ) SPEED-RANGE AND THE AWARD OF MARKS : This graph shows at a glance the number of marks that will be awarded for speed-range. The figures marked against the curve relate to the slow speed, so that when this and the top speed are known, the number of marks can be read off directly. Thus, if the slow speed is 30 m.p.h. and the top speed 70 m.p.h., the speed range will be 40 m.p.h., and the number of marks awarded will be 800. The dotted portion of the upper curves refers to a speed range so low as to tail to bring the top speed up to the minimum of 60 m.p.h. stipulated. land ; £150 by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders ; £150 by the British Cycle and Motor-Cycle Manu facturers' and Traders' Union, and /100 by Captain C. B. Wilson, M.C.—a total of £3,900. The Speed-Range Formula The greater proportion of the prize money is offered for speed-range, competing machines being judged on a basis provided bv the following formula :— »max. » min. Vr 0-333, in which VinnX, is the maximum speed and Vmjn the lowest speed in miles per hour at which the machine is able to fly. Marks will be awarded for speed-range, but it is stipulated that the maximum or top speed must not be less than 60 m.p.h. while the minimum speed must not exceed 45 m.p.h. No percentage figure for speed range lower than 33-3 per cent, will be accepted, and 8 marks will be awarded for each 1 per cent, over 33-33 per cent., and parts of 1 per cent. pro rata. The percentage figure is the range of speed expressed as a percentage of the low speed. Thus, if the top speed is 70 m.p.h. and the low speed 30 m.p.h. the speed range is 40 m.p.h., or 133-3 per cent. Before any marks are awarded 33-33 per cent, must be deducted from this figure, giving 100 per cent., and the number of marks awarded would be 800. In order to show how this award of marks for speed-range will operate, we have prepared the accompanying graph, in which the figures marked against the straight-line curves represent the low speed, plotted on a base of speed-range in m.p.h. From this graph the number of marks awarded for any given performance can be read off directly. The £3,000 offered by the Air Council will be awarded for speed- range, and for getting off and pulling up, £2,000 for the machine obtaining the greatest aggregate of marks in these tests and £1,000 for the aeroplane vvhich is placed second. Getting-Off and Pulling-Up Competitions It has been mentioned that some of the Air Ministry awards will be for getting off and pulling up. No distinction as to the proportion is made in the rules, hut the marks awarded in this competition will be added to those obtained in the speed-range competition and tne award made according to the total number of marks. In addition, the prize of £500 offered by the Duke of Sutherland will be awarded to the machine obtaining highest marks in getting off and pulling up, while Capt. Wilson's prize of £100 will be awarded for the machine classed second. As in the case of the speed- range competition, the awards in the getting-off and pulling-up competitions will be made according to marks obtained. Briefly this competition will .consist of starting from rest and clearing a barrier 25 ft. in height in the shortest possible distance, 1 mark being awarded for every yard by which the distance is less than 450 yards. The pulling up competition is somewhat similar in that competitors will be required to make a straight landing across a barrier 6 ft. high and coming to rest in the shortest possible distance beyond the barrier, 1 mark being awarded for every yard by which the distance required to come to a standstill is less than 150 yards. Reliability Trials The two prizes of £150 each, offered by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and by the British Cycle and Motor-Cycle Manufacturers and Traders' Union respectively, will be awarded for the aeroplane which flies the greatest number of circuits of the course during the period of the competitions, with a minimum of 400 miles. Circuits flown 586
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