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Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0192.PDF
MARCH 26, 1985 PRACTICAL NAVIGATION OF AIRCRAFT THE paper read before the Royal Aeronautical Society byCaptain F. Tymms, M.C., on March 19, under above title dealt very fully indeed with the subject, the paper being oneof the longest ever delivered before that society. Unfor- tunately, space does not permit of publishing the paper infull, and the subject is not one which lends itself to extracting certain portions. We must, therefore, advise our readersto obtain a forthcoming issue of the society's journal in which the paper will be published in full. Extracts being, in a caselike the present, of but small value, we shall not attempt to do other than give the briefest outline of the subjects dealtwith by Capt. Tymms, referring our readers for details to the publication mentioned above. In his introduction the lecturer pointed out that the genera!principles of aerial navigation are in nc way new, and that it was only in the application of these principles that progresshad been made. Navigation resolved itself into two problems, the setting and keeping of a course, and the fixing of position.The number of ways of doing the first were few, but of the second there were many.On the subject of maps the lecturer said Mercator's pro- jection was to be preferred, in spite of certain criticisms, andhad been rightly chosen as a basis for the general sheets of the International Aeronautical Maps. There was a fairlygeneral view that a map for aerial navigation should be a picture of the earth as seen from an aeroplane. This was asound principle, subject to the limitation of all principles, that it should not be ridden to death.Concerning compasses, Captain Tymms said that the development of the magnetic compass had reached a higherstandard in England than in any other country. Reference was made to turn indicators as a necessary adjunct to com-passes, and also to drift indicators, notably the periscopic type, which had given good results as used by the AmericanRound-the-World fliers. From the subject of maintenance of direction, the lecturerproceeded to the estimation of position, or dead reckoning. Direction-finding wireless was dealt with in both its forms,i.e., D.F. by ground stations and D.F. in the machine. Turning next to astronomical navigation, the lecturerstated that the value of this to aerial navigation was a debatable point, but a knowledge of the problems involvedwas of undoubted advantage. He, therefore dealt with some of the instruments employed, notably the R.A.E. bubblesextant. Captain Tymms pointed out that flying in fog was a problemof engines and of landing rather than one of navigation, but referred to two of the most promising methods of assistingaircraft in landing in a fog. One of these was the use of the Loth Leader Cable, and the other was sound location. Thelatter was not satisfactory, the range being insufficient and a certain time elapsing before a pilot could be told where he was,but the former promised to comply with all the requirements. The lecturer also indicated what contribution navigationcould make to the solution of the problem of night flying. When the ground could be kept in view the destination couldbe reached by observation of drift, for which even on the darkest night there was generally enough light. In cloudyweather, especially with low clouds, the problem was more serious, and the only way out was to fly over the clouds, aproblem which presented difficulties identical with those concerning flying in a fog.The final part of Captain Tymms' very interesting and instructive paper dealt with the subject of accommodationfor navigators in aircraft and the rules governing the carriage of navigators. R.A.F. Fatal Flying AccidentTHE Air Ministry regrets to announce that as a result of an accident in Waziristan, India, tc a D.H.9A of No. 27 Squadron. Risalpur, Nowshera, on .March 21, Flying OfficerEdward John Dashwood, the pilot of the aircraft, died of injuries and Flying Officer Noel Cecil Hayter-Hames was killed. THE LATEST SUPERMARINE FLYING BOAT : The " Southampton, fitted with two Napier Lion "engines, is of typical Supermarine lines, but has three fins and three rudders, although the horizontal tail is of monoplane type 192
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