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Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0220.PDF
APRIL 9, 1925 CORRESPONDENCE The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents. The names and addresses oj the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters intended for insertion in these columns. FLYING MODELS AND RESEARCH [2093] Apropos of your leading article in the issue of FLIGHT of March 12 on the subject of safety in flying, it is opportune to remind you of the work being carried on by the Research Committee of this Society. On January 8 last you kindly published a report of a competition for model gliders which when dropped vertically would right themselves quickly and automatically and then glide to earth. This was very success- fully accomplished by a modified Dunne-type machine. This model, when deliberately stalled, dips its nose and glides, not falls, to earth. The members who witnessed the per- formance were greatly impressed by it, and the committee has organised for the coming season a competition for this particular design of model in actual flight. A certain amount of aerodynamical efficiency is sacrificed for safety, which at the moment is more important. On this score we do not anticipate this design being accept- able to experts, but will not perturb those who are making and testing these model aeroplanes. When the necessary flying trials of this model have been successfully carried out, we hope to arrange a demonstration to show its capabilities and to obtain advice as to whether it will be practicable in full-sized practice. Members of the above committee are open to carry out similar experiments on aeroplanes in free flight by means of flying models, and would welcome suggestions from aeroplane designers or manufacturers as to what might be tested in the interests of safer flying. The rules for three proposed research competitions for model aeroplanes during the coming summer are enclosed (see p. 218), and it is hoped these will interest you, especially the one for the FLIGHT Cup. W. E. EVANS, Hon. Sec. Research Committee L.S.D. AND FLYING [2094] With reference to your correspondent's remarks under above heading. There seems to be some misunderstanding with regard to the so-called " finding " of the right young men for sporting flying. -A The first essential is to find men with the sporting spirit for it, who would be prepared to give their support first, if only in a small way, and afterwards think about the possi- bility or otherwise of owning a machine of their own. The Light 'Plane Clubs will afford a splendid opportunity in this respect, even for those with only a very modest bank balance, and it remains to be seen what measure of support they are going to get from the enthusiastic ones. J. H. FRANKS SUPERCHARGING [2095] I have been very much interested in the letter from Mr. W. E. Gray with regard to supercharging, in your issue of March 19. I am the more interested, as I am the owner of the master patents in Great Britain, No. 21614/14, and its Patent of Addition No. 106539, for supercharging, not only for aero- planes, but also for motor vehicles. I have been carefully watching, so far as was possible, to obtain information of what was being done in the works at Farnborough with regard to the question of supercharging the engines of aeroplanes during the War, and I believe that I know generally what was done. I think that it has now been shown that the Rateau method is too complicated and adds too much weight to an aeroplane for this system to survive. Eventually there can be no doubt all touring cars and probably all racing cars will be fitted with superchargers, and equally there is no doubt that superchargers will be fitted to aeroplane engines, particularly to enable them to overcome the difficulty of the decrease of atmospheric pressure with altitude. For supercharging aeroplanes, the centrifugal fan or blower must be driven by the engine and at a higher rate of speed than the engine in order to ensure continuance of the starting level power at higher altitudes, and especially will this apply presently to aeroplanes for commercial flying. There should also be a controlled variation of speed of the supercharger to enable the pilot to control the speed of the engine and aeroplane as required when starting, manoeuvring and landing. j. D. ROOTS IN PARLIAMENT Civil Aerodromes LIEUT.-COLONEL HENEAGE, on March 25, asked the Secretary of State forAir if he will consider the establishing of further municipal or civil landing places for aircraft to encourage civil aviation ? The Undersecretary of State for Air (Major Sir Philip Sassoon) : It isnot desirable, for financial and other reasons, to provide Government civil aerodromes in advance of the need for them, but the attention of localauthorities has been drawn to the desirability of making provision for aero- dromes, particularly in connection with town planning schemes.Royal Air Force and Attaches LIEUT.-COLOKEL HENEAGE asked the Secretary of State for Air if he willarrange for British Air Attaches to visit our aircraft manufacturers before they take up their posts ?Sir P. Sassoon : Arrangements are always made to ensure that officers appointed as air attaches are conversant with the various types of bothService and civil aircraft. Visits to aircraft factories are arranged when considered necessary. Foreign Pilots and Training with the R.A.F. LIEUT.-COLONEL HENEAGE asked the Secretary of State for Air whatfacilities are offered to foreign pilots to train with our Air Force with a view of encouraging the purchase of British aircraft manufactures t Sir P. Sassoon : The resources of the Air Force are available for the train-ing of foreign officers as far as Service requirements permit, and it is the policy of the Air Ministry to encourage the attachment of such officers insuitable cases. Lieut.-Colonel Heneage : Is the hon. and gallant gentleman aware that incountries where they encourage foreign pilots to come a great deal of trade results ? Sir P. Sassoon : Yes, and that is one of the reasons why we encourageforeign pilots to come whenever they can. m m m m PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED Technical Notes of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics: No. 209.—Tests of Rotating Cylinders. By E. G. Reid. December, 1924. No. 210.—The Testing of Aviation Engines under Approximate Altitude Conditions. By R. N. DuBois. December, 1924. No. 211.—Aircraft Engine Design. By E. E. Wilson. January, 1925. No. 212. —Simplified Propeller Design for Low-Powered Airplanes. By F. R. Weick. January, 1925. U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Navy Building, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Resume of Commercial and Technical Information. February,1925. Series 3. No. 31. Air Ministry, Adastral House, Kingsway, W.C.2. :m m m m NEW COMPANY REGISTERED PALMER AUTOMOBILES, LTD., 622, London Road, YVestdin-on-Sea, Essex.—Capital £1,000, in £1 shares. Makers and repairers of and dealers in aeroplanes, biplanes, water planes and planes of similar construction, etc.Permanent directors : E. T. Palmer (managing director) and VV. J. Perrctt. m m m m AERONAUTICAL PATENT SPECIFICATIONS Abbreviations : Cyl. = cylinder] Lc. •- internal combustion! rn. — motorThe numbers in brackets are those under which the Specifications will be printed and abridged, etc.APPLIED FOR IN 1923 Published April 9, 192530,858. H,,LEITNER. Screw propellers. (230,532.) APPLIED FOR IN 1924Published April 2, 1925 574. H. J. POLLAHP and BRISTOL AEROFLANE CO., LTD. .Light-metalspars or beams. (230,213.) 2,689. H. JUNKERS. Flying machines. (210,796.) Published April 9, 1925 5,376. DORMER METALLBAUTEN GES. and C. DORNIEK. Driving of flying machines. (212,547.) 28,099. J. GALLAND. Trucks for use in mancouvriug aircraft. (230,757.) APPLIED FOR IN 1925Published March 26, 1925 3,998. VICKERS, LTD., and F. W. SCARFF. Gun mountings for use onaircraft. (229,992.) FLIGHT The Aircraft Engineer and Airships GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C. 2.Telegraphic address : Truditur. Telephone : Gerrard 1828. Westcent, London. SUBSCRIPTION RATES " FLIGHT " will be forwarded, post free, at the following rates i— UNITED KINGDOM 3 Months, Post Free. 6 12 • European subscriptions must be remitted in British currency Cheques and Post Office Orders should be made payable to the Proprietors of " FLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C. 2, and crossed London County and Westminster Bank, otherwise no responsibility will be accepted. I s. 7 15 30 d. 7 2 4 3 6 12 ABROAD* Months, Post Free. »* *f • s. . 8 .16 .33 d. 3 6 0 220
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