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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0805.PDF
DECEMBER 25, 1924 AN AMERICAN TWO-SEATER LIGHT 'PLANE-THE "DIXIE AN interesting two-seater light'plane—or "aerial flivver" as our American cousins call it—has recently been produced by the Charles E. Lay Co., of Say brook Avenue, Cincinnati. This little machine, the general layout of which is indicated by the accompanying sketch-plan and elevations, was designed by Harry Heasel, chief engineer of the firm. As may be seen, the " Dixie," as it is called, is a cantilever monoplane of very clean design. It has a span of 20 ft. an overall length of 14 ft. 6 ins., and a height of 4 ft. 6 ins. Fitted with a 40 h.p. 2-cyl. horizontally-opposed engine, the " Dixie " has a maximum speed of 100 m.p.h. and a cruising speed of 92 m.p.h. The landing speed is 25 m.p.h., and the range of action is somewhere about 500 miles. In the new model just tested a Gottingen section is employed for the wings, which have a fairly pronounced taper from root to tip ; the maximum chord measures 7 ft. 6 ins. The comparatively wide fuselage is of good streamline shape, and somewhat resembles that employed on the old Morane-Saulnier monoplanes. The two seats are arranged side-by-side, but being located in the centre of the wings we should think that the view forward in a downward direc tion would not be of the best. While nothing particularly new is claimed in the " Dixie," a number of well-known and reliable combinations have been placed together, bringing out a small-sized machine that fully accomplishes expectations. Simplicity of construction ; absence of wires, struts and all exterior bracings ; standard accessories throughout ; entirely separate engine installation ; ease of assembly and adaptability as a single or two-seater, are just a few of the " Dixie's " characteristics. It is guaranteed as to performance, materials and quality of workmanship, and it can be supplied with or without engine. In the latter case, engine installation diagrams are furnished free of charge for any class of power plant the customer may desire to install, provided it does not weigh more than 150 lbs. The range of power plants that can be used on this machine varies from 14 to 40 h.p. The " Dixie " is also supplied in " knockdown " condition, with all parts ready to fit and numbered with assembling instructions. The weight of this machine empty is 280 lbs. and the load capacity varies from 210 to 360 lbs. ; the factor of safetv is 9. We understand that already several of these machines have been sold. 0 <8> • <•> LIGHT 'PLANE CLUB DOINGS WE shall be pleased to have reports regularly from Club Secretaries, or those directly connected with new Light 'Plane Clubs, so that by keeping our readers informed on this matter the whole movement may be helped forward to the benefit of the clubs and the popularising of " that Air feeling." Light 'Plane Clubs are being, or have been, formed at:— London.—Lieut.-Com. H. E. Perrin, Secretary, Royal Aero Club, 3, Clifford Street, W.l. Birmingham.—Major Gilbert Dennison, Secretary, Mid land Aero Club, Handsworth. Glasgow.—J. Allison, Esq., Jnr., 219, St. Vincent Street. Lancashire.—C. J. Wood, Esq., Secretary, Lancashire Aero Club, c/o A. V. Roe and Co., Newton Heath, Manchester. Newcastle-on-Tyne.—Alex. H. Bell, Esq., Hon. Sec, Newcastle-on-Tyne Light 'Plane Club, County Hotel. Yorkshire.—Prof. G. Brodetsky, Yorkshire Aeroplane Club, Leeds University. We have received the following report on the progress being made : Lancashire Aero Club.—The Club held a most successful informal copcert at the Manchester Cafe, Manchester, on Tuesday evening, December 16. Several amusing items were contributed by various members and the Secretary outlined the present position and plans for construction work when the new workroom in Manchester is ready. The object of this concert was to enable new members to get to know each other, and to keep everyone in touch. Mr. R. Mede, who has recently returned from Germany, gave an interesting talk on gliders in Germany to-day ; he explained many details of the simple construction of these machines, and outlined what was being done by the glider clubs in that country. This was especially useful, as the Lancashire Aero Club intends to build several gliders to tide over the time until the light aeroplanes are ready. <s> • "AIRCRAFT OF THE WORLD."* So far we have seldom come across a book written specially for youthful readers dealing with a technical subject that really " gets there." Either the subject is treated in the simplest, or most elementary, form possible, so that the technical knowledge imparted is next to nothing, or else it is technical to the extent that the young reader is inclined to be somewhat scared of perusing the volume from cover to cover. In however, " Aircraft of The World," by Maj. F. A. de V. Robertson, late R.A.F., we find a work that is not only extraordinarily comprehensive as regards the subject dealt with, but its execution is such that the reader—young or old —must be thoroughly interested from start to finish, while, at the same time, receiving a knowledge of the subject that is rather more than general. The title, we think, however, is somewhat misleading, and does not altogether describe the nature of this book. As a matter of fact, it is really a concentrated history of aviation * " Aircraft of The World." By Maj. F. A. de V. Robertson. Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press. Price 7s. 6d. net. 805 and text-book of aeronautics. The Introduction really is an introduction, for in some ten pages Maj. Robertson gives us a brief but concise history of aviation, and a similarly concise " What is " and " Why it is "of the principles of aeronautics. Having thus thoroughly introduced us to our subject, he then proceeds to deal with the various aspects of aviation as follows :—The Royal Air Force ; Commercial Flying ; Flying in the British Empire ; Airships ; Seaplanes and Amphibians ; Gliders and Light Aeroplanes ; Aero Engines ; Air Sport; Foreign Aircraft, etc. The book is well illustrated, not only with reproductions from photographs of various types of aircraft, but also with some excellent coloured plates from the brush of Mr. H. R. Millar, while the frontispiece consists of a reproduction in colours of the beautiful painting, " The Convoy," by Sir John Lavery, R.A., showing, from the car of H.M. airship N.S. 7, a convoy of food-ships being escorted into harbour by air ships. " Aircraft of The World " is, in short, one of the best books on aviation we have had the pleasure of seeing for some time.
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