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Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0211.PDF
APRIL 9, 1925 JUST as we go to press it is learned that the Aircraft Dis- posal Co.'s " Cirrus " engine, described and illustrated in FLIGHT of February 26, 1925, has passed its Air Ministry type tests. No detailed particulars are yet to hand, but we understand that the test was one of 100 hours' duration, and that the 60 h.p. " Cirrus " passed with flying colours. Not a single sparking plug had to be changed, so that it does not appear that the absence of dual ignition is any great drawback. A prolonged test run with the engine driving a propeller was also carried out in order to determine whether or not the rear cylinder was inclined to overheat. This was not found to be the case, and thus seems to dispose of the theory that four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engines are likely to give trouble owing to uneven cooling. We hope to be in a position to give the full test results in next week's issue of FLIGHT. Probably the next piece of news will be that the de Havilland " Moth " has been granted an airworthiness certificate, and in that case some rather startling performances may be expected, calculated to demonstrate the reliability of the " Cirrus-Moth " combination. APROPOS the " Moth," this was taken by lorry to Croydon the other day to give demonstration flights, road transport having to be employed because the machine is not yet officially " blessed." In unloading the machine a plank broke and the " Moth " was dropped fairly heavily to the ground, sustaining a certain amount of damage. However, this has now been repaired, and the machine will probably soon be heard of again. * * * IN France the general topic of conversation in aviation circles is the winning (or not), by Drouhin, of the Solex Prize for a flight from Paris, to Rouen. It may be recollected that in Light Plane and Glider Notes on January 3, 1924, we published brief particulars of the Solex Prize, offered by the manufacturers of the Solex carburettor for a flight from Paris to Rouen using only one kilogramme of fuel and oil. If the prize was not won by April I, 1925, it was to go to the pilot who first covered the distance, providing the consump- tion did not exceed 3 kgs. of fuel and oil. THERE were probably few who seriously believed that the flight was possible on the 2-2 lbs. of fuel, and as we said at the time, the second clause in the regulations practically nullified the main conditions. The distance from Paris to Rouen is roughly 90 kilometres (56 miles) and it was covered by Drouhin on a Farman light monoplane with three-cylinder radial Salmson engine in 1 hour 20 minutes. The actual fuel consumption was found to be so nearly the 3 kgs. per- mitted that it will be for the Laboratairc des Arts et Metiers to say whether or not Drouhin has, in fact, won the prize. The general opinion is that he has just managed to do so. THE flight from Paris to Rou'en started from a small field belonging to the Lorraine-Dietrich Co., and situated behind their works at Argenteuil. There was a strong following wind, and Drouhin flew low. He stated afterwards that he experienced considerable up-currents. which repeatedly raised him from about 100 metres to roughly 300 metres. By thus gaining height and potential energy he was able to throttle his engine well back, and at no time, he stated, was he taking more than 8 or 10 h.p. from it. The actual con- sumption is stated to have been somewhere in the neighbour- hood of 4 litres (0-88 gallons). If this figure is correct the consumption works out at roughly 63J miles per gallon, which is certainly not impossible. Thus the single-seaters at Lympne in 1923 did as much as 871 miles per gallon, measured over a triangular course where a head wind was encountered over parts of the course. The Paris-Rouen flight was, we gather, made with a strong following wind. 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.I. Birmingham.—Major Gilbert Dennison. Hon. Secretary, Midland Aero Club, Handsworth, Birmingham. . 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.—J. F. Barnes, Esq., Yorkshire Aeroplane Club, 39. Swan Arcade, Bradford. We have receiver! the following reports on the progress beingmade :— Lancashire Aero Club.—The Special Committee who were appointed to deal with the Air Ministry questionnaire have now returned this completed ; they have also forwarded an estimate of income and expenses. A copy of the form, etc., as returned to the Air Ministry, may be seen on the notice board at the Club's headquarters. The headquarters at the Nag's Head Hotel is now estab- lished. Members are making it a custom to take lunch there whenever possible ; on Tuesdays and Fridays there are usually about fifteen or twenty members having lunch. The Head- quarters Committee wish to point out that the Club-room is open every day, and every evening, except Tuesday, when it is reserved for committee meetings. The flying and motoring papers are taken, and meals are served in the private dining-room reserved for members and friends. Members are finding the headquarters a convenient meeting place, and it is a help for those who do not know many of the members to get in touch. The L-P-W glider is to be brought on Saturday, March 28, to the new workshop at Didsbury, Broadbents Garage. Members are advised to see the notice board, where it will be stated on what nights work on this machine will be carried on. The 504K Avro biplane, with 80 Renault engine, has been despatched from Aintree, and will be delivered any day. On Wednesday, March 25, the Chairman entertained the last year's committee to dinner at the Manchester, Ltd., Restaurant. The following were present : Messrs. A. Ainsworth, Mark Lacayo, D. F. Dyson, D. Salthouse, Rex Williams, C. Wood (the secretary) and John Leeming (chair- man). Mr. T. Prince was unfortunately unable to be present, but sent a wire from Sealand aerodrome explaining he had been detained. An " Inner Circle " Airway IMPERIAL AIRWAYS will operate a novel air service this summer. This will be known as the Aerial Inner Circle, and will consist of a daily service from London to London via Paris, Cologne and Amsterdam. The return journey will be made via Amsterdam, Cologne and Paris ! It is expected that the journey, in either direction, will take 12 hours. Air Raids on Indian FrontierA MESSAGE from Simla states that the intensive bombingoperations carried out on the North-West Frontier by three squadrons of the Air Force during the last three weeks from Tank have been most successful. In addition to the return of two captured Hindus certain tribes have paid up their fines. The Abdurrahman Khel, who are more inaccessible owing to their living in caves, have still not completely complied with the Government's terms ; therefore operations are continuing. Oslo-Copenhagen Air Service FROM May 1 the daily aerial mail passenger route will be opened between Oslo and Copenhagen, via Gothenburg, bringing Norway and Southern Sweden in direct connection with the Continental air routes. 211
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