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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0778.PDF
DECEMBER 11, 1924 SHORT BROS. AND METAL CONSTRUCTION MANY Aircraft constructors, both at home and abroad, are now giving the all-metal aeroplane serious consideration, when but a few years ago metal construction was looked upon with disfavour—and perhaps with fear—by a large proportion of designers. As far back as 1920, however, Messrs. Short Bros.—one of the pioneer aeronautical firms, and certainly the oldest established builders of aeroplanes in this country-—had the courage of their convictions and produced an all-metal aeroplane. This machine, the Short " Swallow," made its first appearance at the Olympia Aero Show of 1920, where it created a considerable amount of interest. The " Swallow " was the outcome of the firm's extensive experience in the construction of rigid airships, in which form of construction, using light aluminium alloys, they saw great possibilities in its application to aeroplanes. The " Swallow " was an orthodox single-seater fuselage-tractor-biplane of the two-bay type, fitted with a Siddeley " Puma " engine. Duralumin was employed in its construction practically throughout, exceptions being in the wing spars and certain he r minor parts (struts, etc.), where steel was used. The struction, more or less, followed that of the " Silver Streak." Short Bros, continued their experiments in metal construc tion, and towards the end of 1923 they put in hand the extremely interesting all-metal light flying boat which is the subject of the accompanying illustrations. We do not propose to give a description of this' machine here, for we gave a fairly full report on it, together with general arrangement drawings, in FLIGHT for April 17, 1924. The Short light flying boat is interesting, not only on account of its metal construction (at present the wings are fabric covered, but we believe sheet metal will be employed as the covering in the future), but because it forms one of the first examples of the application of metal construction to flying boats produced in this country. Furthermore, it is also the first light " waterplane " to be built, if not in theiworld, in England. Just at the moment this machine is undergoing its trials, and the three accompanying views show the boat on the water at Rochester during one such occasion recently. We may remind our readers that it is fitted with two 696 c.c. Black- burne engines, mounted on the wings, one on each side of the hull, and driving tractor air screws direct. Except, as pre- THE SHORT ALL-METAL LIGHT FLYING BOAT : Three views of this interesting example of metal construc tion undergoing tests at Rochester. At the top it is seen taxying ; on the left, it is being towed by a motor boat ; and on the right it is being moored. fuselage consisted of a framework of transverse oval rings or formers, bulkheads and longitudinals of channel section Duralumin. Riveted to this framework was a covering of thin sheet Duralumin, applied in a number of strips or sheets overlapping circumferentially and joined along the top and bottom centre lines of the fuselage. The result was a fuselage similar to the wooden monocoque type. The wings were built up on tubular steel spars, with sheet Duralumin ribs, the whole being covered with sheet Duralu min, stiffened at intervals by small fluting. As a whole, the all-metal short " Swallow " proved entirely successful, and early in 1921, re-named the " Silver Streak," it was purchased by the Air Ministry with the object of a thorough "try-out." As a result of these tests an order was placed for further all-metal machines. The Short " Spring bok " therefore, made its appearance in 1923. Being a Service machine, details are naturally unavailable, and we can only state that it was a two-seater fighter tractor biplane (not unlike the " Bristol Fighter in general appearance) fitted with a 400 h.p. Bristol " Jupiter," and that its con- H H Sir Sefton Brancker's Air Tour As reported last week, the Director of Civil Aviation, Sir Sefton Brancker, had to journey to Bucharest from Warsaw by rail, as fog and snow prevented flying. Later, however, Alan Cobham was able to fly the D.H.50 over to Bucharest, and on December 5 they continued their journey, by air, to Constantinople. viously stated, for the covering of the wings, it is constructed entirely of metal, mainly Duralumin. The results of the tests with this remarkable little machine will, we know, be awaited with interest. Before concluding our remarks on Messrs. Short Bros.' activities in metal construction, reference should be made to the Short " Satellite "—a two-seater light 'plane, fitted with a Bristol " Cherub " engine. This also is constructed of metal, except for the wing covering, and was one of the machines entered for the recent two-seater light 'plane competitions. A fully illustrated description of the "Satellite," together with general arrangement drawings, appeared in FLIGHT for July 24 and September 25, 1924, so we need not say more here than that it is a two-seater monoplane of normal type, and that, although it suffered from a fit of sulks on the occason of the light 'plane competitions, it flies remarkably well. Thus it will be seen that our old-established aeronautical firm of Short Bros, has done good work in connection with metal construction as applied to aircraft, and we may reason ably expect great things from them in this way in the future. H H Sydney Air Carnival THE Australian Aero Club is delighted by the perform ance of the Australian-built light aeroplanes which took part in an aerial carnival at Richmond Aerodrome, Sydney, last week. One of the most successful is a-biplane, with a 30 h.p. engine, designed by Mr. H. E. Broadsmith, formerly with the Avro Co. 778
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