FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0348.PDF
CORRESPONDENCE SEMI-RIGID v. RIGID [2096] In regard to the renewed interest in airships, I should like to ask if it be possible for you once more to review the semi-rigid v. rigid position. In your Editorial Comments of August 25, 1921, on the findings of the Imperial Air Communications Committee, you ask " Why Rigids at all ? Have we become obsessed by the big rigid ? " When one considers how the very real claims of the semi-rigid, as a commercial proposition, have been ignored so persistently by our airship advocates, there can be but one answer to your second question. And now today the designs of our two 5,000,000 cub. ft. " experiments " are well advanced. What- ever new data are forthcoming from the tests being made with the R.33, the incorporation of experimental features can scarcely be avoided, and, unlike that of the Zeppelin Company's, our practical experience in the design and con- struction of airships is not such as to form a very securs foundation upon which to base these features. However, fools rush in where angels fear to tread, and to the fetish of capacity we sacrifice an excellent prospect of Empire communication, such as that advanced in the continuation of your comments of the same issue (August 25, 1921) and again about a year later—June 22, 1922—utilising a similar ship to the Parseval P.L.27 or Italian N type. A scheme, incidentally, that would cost less money. Since, however, the cry is " Capacity—and nothing but capacity," cannot we get investigated the possibility of a 5,000,000 cub. ft. semi-rigid ? Why should capacity and rigid be synonymous ? Eng. Nobile, in his article, " Semi-rigid v. Rigid," January 26, 1922, stated : " We are convinced that to whatever dimensions our T type may be increased—within practical limits—we shall always find that the particular characteristics which constitute its funda- mentally good qualities are not only preserved, but even accentuated. . . . When the volume exceeds 3,500,000 cub. tt. the problems of construction and assemblage take on a certain importance, but though these problems ma]/ be difficult of solution, they are never such as to lead to unfavourable conditions." In view of more recent Italian developments, one feels that the whole subject is worthy of our greatest consideration, and as no doubt the co-operation of the Italian designers could be counted on to the full, the experiment would not lack prospects of a fair measure of success. If it were possible to follow up the lecture given by Dr. Eckener by a contribution by Eng. Nobile, it would give great satisfaction to those who feel that " it is open to discussion whether the world, led by Germany, was right in deciding in favour of the rigid type of ship. " There is consolation, however, in the fact that one country, not unimportant in engineering skill, has faith in the semi- rigid—a country, unfortunately, whose financial position limits the rate of progress. W. SWANN Birmingham. LIGHT PLANES [2097] We have been experimenting for some time with a view to the formation of a club using light aircraft only. Referring to the development of light aeroplanes, we note with dismay that the low-powered machines of the Lympne competitions, which must at least be said to have given encouraging results, appear to be in grave danger of being superseded by high-power machines which are almost on a par with the standard training machines. Since pre-War machines flew well with engines that in most cases did not exceed 50 h.p., it is surely possible for machines of modern design, in conjunction with the more efficient engines of today to fly with ample margins as a single or two- seater on 12 h.p. or less. This is, in any case, still our opinion, and an opinion we are prepared to back in a practical manner by the formation of a club as aforesaid, devoted solely to light aircraft. You may be interested to learn that we are constructing a machine on the above basis, which we hope to complete by the summer. We should much appreciate your kindness if you could insert a few lines in your light aeroplane column to the effect that we wish to get into touch with any interested persons in our vicinity as we are now making arrangements for a flying ground, and hope to be in a position to commence shortly. As regards light 'planes, there are probably many who agree with us that the method adopted of calling heavy " light " is not the final solution of the light 'plane problem. GNAT AERO AND MOTOR CO. Portslade, Sussex. JUNE 4, 1925 SIDE-WINDSWE understand that Mr. K. S. Murray, M.I.Mech.E., who has been for many years the managing director of the BritishOxygen Co., has been elected to the chairmanship of that company, which has been rendered vacant by the death ofMr. E. B. Ellice Clark, M.Inst.C.E. Mr. Murray will, for the present, continue also to discharge the duties of managingdirector. This appointment will be regarded as eminently suitable by all who in any way are conversant with the historyof the British Oxygen Company. WE are informed that Col. W. A. Bristow, consulting aeronautical engineer, has moved from 104, High Holborn to more convenient offices at 39, Grosvenor Place, West- minster, S.W. 1. A well-equipped chemical and physical laboratory is also being set up here for purposes of research. Furthermore, the department" dealing with the designing and technical work for the Sumet Metal Corporation, Ltd., will be housed in the same building, and Maj. Howard M. Whitley, A.M.I C.E., has been appointed to take charge of this work. The new telephone number is Franklin 6540, and the tele- graphic address is " Sinecos, Sowest, London." Coi.. M. DI PINEDO, Chief of Italian Air Staff, who has justreached Australia from Rome in a Savoia S.16 ter flying boat fitted with a 400 h.p. Lorraine-Dietrich engine, has cabledMessrs. C. G. Wakefield and Co., Ltd., saying • " Arrived motor excellent condition Wakefield Castrol giving everysatisfaction." m m m m Institution of Aeronautical Engineers' Visit to Croydon ON Saturday, June 6, members of the Institution ofAeronautical Engineers will, at the invitation of Imperial Airways, Ltd., pay a visit to Croydon Aerodrome. Memberswill assemble at the entrance to the aerodrome at 3 p.m. » m m m PUBLICATIONS RECEIVEDDominion of Canada Report on Civil Aviation, 1924. Depart- ment of National Defence, Dominion of 'Canada, Ottawa,Canada. Price 25 cents. An Introduction to Fluid Motion, By W. N. Bond. EdwardArnold and Co., 41 and 43, Maddox Street, London, W.I. Price 5s. net. Cours a"Aviation Destine aux Eleves-Pilotes et Mecaniciews.By A. Desaleux. Gauthier-Villars etCie., 55, Quai des Grands- Augustins, Paris. Price 35 jr. ; postage 2fr. 25 c. " The Lighter Way." William Mills, Ltd., Atlas Alu-minium Works, Grove Street, Birmingham. m m m m AERONAUTICAL PATENT SPECIFICATIONS Abbreviations : Cyl. = cylinders i.e. = internal combustion ; m. — motor The numbers in brackets are those under which the Specifications will be printed and abridged, etc. APPLIED FOR IN 1924 Published June 4, 1925 3,240. SPERKY GYROSCOPE CO. Launching devices for aeroplanes, aerial torpedoes, etc. (233,425.) APPLIED FOR IN 1925 Published June 4, 1925. 7,811. AERO MOTOR-U. AUTO ZUBEHOR AKT.-GES. Searchlight projector.(233,644.) FLIGHT ~ The Aircraft Engineer and Airships 36, GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C. 2.Telegraphic address : Truditur, Westcent, London. Telephone : Gerrard 1828. FLIGHT SUBSCRIPTION RATES ' will be forwarded, post free, at the following raits i ABROAD* d.7 2 4 3 6 12 Months, it Post Free. • s.. 8 .16 .33 d.3 60 UNITED KINGDOM s. 3 Months, Post Free.. 7 6 „ „ ..15 12 „ „ ..30 * Foreign 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. Should any difficulty be experienced in procuring " FLIGHT " from local newsvendors, intending readers can obtain each issue direct from the Publishing Office, by forwarding remittance as above. 348
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
