FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0152.PDF
MARCH 12, 1925 HAWKER ENGINEERING COMPANY : Left, a corner of the tinsmiths' department ; and right, a portion ol the sandblasting department. machine is in an advanced stage of construction. In order to render possible the production of machines of metal without laying down a large and very expensive plant, some highly interesting forms of metal construction have been evolved, and we were privileged to see examples of metal wing spars of a form which has not, to the best of our knowledge, hitherto been produced by an ' other firm. Unfortunately we are not at liberty to describe these spars, but we understand that they have been tested and officially passed, so that it may be taken for granted that the type is sound. It should certainly be relatively cheap to manufacture, and as a production job should be capable of being turned out rapidly. Along the usual lines of construction the Hawker Engineer- ing Co. has developed manufacture to a high pitch of perfec- tion. On the timber side a considerable amount of research work and testing is being done, apparatus having been installed for taking measurements of samples for moisture contents, etc., and quite recently the firm has had specially made to the designs of Mr. Bennett, one of the directors of the firm, a very large testing machine in which compression and tensile tests can be carried out on specimens as long as 9 ft. Thus even very long struts can be tested full size, and the merits of particular forms of construction ascer- tained. In the metal work departments, apart from the experi- mental shops, an extensive plant is in operation for the manufacture and after-treatment of metal components and fittings. Sandblasting is extensively employed, and all metal fittings are being electro-tinned before enamelling so as to ensure as far as possible the permanence of the enamel and protection from rust. In addition to work on their own machines the firm has undertaken the construction of under- carriages for another firm, and altogether the larc;e factory, an idea of the size of which may be formed from the accom- panying photographs taken recently, is kept pretty fully occupied. Concerning the machines. in course of construction at Kingston, it is not permissible to say very much, as several of them are of the " hush-hush " type, but in addition to Snipe and D.H. 9A'a, of which the firm has re-conditioned a very large number, a batch of " Woodcocks " with Bristol " Jupiter " engines is progressing rapidly, and it seems likely that during the present year at least one R.A.F. squadron will be equipped with this type. ' Photographs of the " Wood- cock " were published in FLIGHT some months ago, and it will be recollected that the machine is a high-performance single-seater fighter. Other machines, of still more recent type, but about which nothing whatever may be said, are finished, and ready for their flying tests. Lest it should be thought that the Hawker F.ngineering Co. confines its activities to military machines, we might mention that we had the pleasure of inspecting the drawings of a racer which should go a long way towards reinstating Great Britain in a leading position in the sphere of sporting aviation. The Sopwith firm, from the very earliest days, was always a firm believer in the value of taking part in sporting events, and Mr. Sopwith himself was, in the old days, seldom missed from any list of flying competitions, of which he won a good many, beginning with the de Forest Prize for a flight from England to Belgium in 19U. The Hawker firm built a racer with Bristol " Jupiter " engine for the Aerial Derby some years ago, but the machine was, unfor- tunately, crashed, and siuce then no high-speed sporting machine has been produced. Happily there is now good reason to hope that a really modern racer may carry the Hawker-Sopwith racing colours, and that a valuable addition to British air-racing will materialise at an early date. The racer, like all recent Hawker aircraft, has been designed by Mr. Carter, the firm's chief designer, who is now ably seconded by Mr. S. Camm, who was, it may be recollected, mainly responsible for the splendid little light 'planes flown by Longton and Raynham at Lympne last vear. In connection with the " Cygnets " it is of interest to note that one of these has been flying frequently ever since at Martlcsham, and that no adjustments or replacements of any kind have been found necessary. With the A.B.C. " Scorpion " engine this machine has an excellent performance, and but for the unfortunate engine failure at the last minute Kaynham would undoubtedly have secured first prize at Lvmpne last year The top speed of the " Cygnet " is, we believe, a little better than 80 m.p.h. Although the light 'plane question is at present in a very undecided state, it may be hoped that in this direction also the Hawker company will be taking an active part if and when we really get down to brass tacks. Altogether it can be said that the Hawker Engineering Co. is very much alive at the present moment, and under the energetic leadership of Mr. Sopwith and Mr. Sigrist. backed by an experienced staff, the firm should make great strides in the near future and thus worthily carry on the traditions of the old Sopwith Co. with which a good number of the present personnel were connected. * Brussels-Congo Flight LIEUT. THIEFFRY, who is flying from Brussels to Belgian Congo on a three-engined Handley Page biplane, left Niamey (where he arrived on February 25) on March 1 at 6.50 a.m. He was forced to descend at Tessowa at 1.15 p.m., owing to » the intense heat. The flight was resumed at 8 a.m. next ^morning, and an hour later Zinder was reached. Government Aeronautical Exhibit at Wembley THE Secretary of the Royal Aeronautical Society informs us that it is proposed to form a historical exhibit for this year's Wembley Exhibition dealing with the history of flying from the earliest times to the present day. Any member of the R.Ae.S. or any reader of FLIGHT having any books, ^prints, objets d'art, models, curios, etc., which he would be prepared to lend for this purpose, is invited to communicate vith the Society's Honorary Librarian, J. E. Hodgson, Esq., 115, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.2. All objects loaned will 'be fully insured and the source acknowledged. Canadian Forest Patrol AIR patrol of the Northern Ontario forests has proved so successful in the past that the Government has decided to increase the number of machines carrying out this work in the future, all of which will be equipped with wireless. 152
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
