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Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0131.PDF
FEBRUARY 25, 1926 THE BEARDMORE W.B. XXVI A Machine with Excellent Controllability IN our issue of August 20, 1925, we published the general arrangement drawings and a brief description of the Beardmore W.B. XXVI two-seater fighter, designed and constructed by William Beardmore and Co., Ltd., of Glasgow, for the Govern- ment of Latvia. Further particulars of the machine, as well as photographic illustrations, were given in our issue of December 31, 1925. The W.B. XXVI has now been put through its flying tests, and although detailed performance figures may not be given, it is possible to state that recently, when the machine was being tested by Captain A. N. Kingwill, the firm's chief test pilot, the speed range was found to be no less than three to one, which must certainly be regarded as extraordinarily good. sidered to be perhaps the most important demonstration of all. Keeping the machine along a horizontal path the engine was gradually throttled down until the stalling angle was reached. The throttle was then closed and the control stick pulled right back. The machine assumed an attitude of approximately 60 degs. with the horizontal, and commenced to sink on an even keel. By way of showing that the machine was still under control in this fully stalled condition, Capt. Kingwill rocked it laterally and pitched it fore and aft. A similar demonstration was then given with the engine full on. Flying horizontally at about 1,000 ft. altitude, Capt. Kingwill commenced to climb almost vertically, until the machine stalled and started to fall tail first. The engine was full on, A MANtEUVRABLE MACHINE : The Beardmore W.B. XXVI has recently been put through some severeperformance and controllability tests, from which it has emerged with flying colours. Although not in the nature of performance tests in the ordinary sense of the term, it is interesting to learn that the manoeuvrability and structural strength of the W.B. XXVI are very good indeed. In the course of the test flights. Capt. Kingwill dived the machine at over 200 m.p.h., and made a loop immediately on flattening out from the dive. In spite of the very high stresses which must have been imposed upon the machine, no trouble was experienced, and no failure of any structural part occurred. Capt. Kingwill then gave a display of the stunt known as " the falling leaf," and the machine was also rolled and spun. The next tests to which the machine was put were high-speed cornering with the angle of bank approaching the vertical. After this Capt. Kingwill proceeded to give what was con- <•> <$> and it was noticed that the nose of the machine merely dropped slightly and the machine commenced to sink. The angle of the fuselage as before was about 60 degs. to the'horizontal, and it was again demonstrated that all the controls'were fully operative. Considering that the Beardmore W.B. XXVI is not fitted with any unusual forms of lateral controls, this achievement is one of which the designer, Mr. W. S. Shackleton, may well be proud. Technical data relating to the Beardmore W.B. XXVI have already been published in FLIGHT in the articles referred to above, and a technical description of the undercarriage, which is of unusual design, will be found in THE AIRCRAFT ENGINEER supplement. The machine has repeatedly been taxied at high speed on rough ground without trouble. THE WORLD'S AIRWAYS" UNDER the title of " A Commercial and Historical Atlas of the World's Airways," an ambitious handbook has just been issued and compiled by Francis J. Field, Ltd., of Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham), a name, no doubt, well known to some of our readers in connection with that latest hobby, Air Mail Philately, or " Aero-philosemy." We say ambi- tious, for we fully appreciate the extreme difficulty experi- enced in obtaining anything like complete and reliable data regarding commercial air services, special or experimental flights, &c, that have taken place in various parts of the world. At the outset, we must say that the publishers of this work are to be congratulated on the thoroughness and completeness of the information they have got together between its sky-blue covers. In a Foreword by Sir W. Sefton Brancker, the Director of Civil Aviation, says : "I wish the best of luck to this enterprising little publication. It is of importance that the general public should know what is being done by the various nations of the world in the development of Air Transport. "A Commercial and HistoricalTAtlas -of'-the1 World's jAirways." Francis J. Field, Ltd., Birmingham, Price 2s. 6rf. net. This ' Atlas ' should give a vivid and comprehensive view of this new activity, which will be of such vast importance to the British Empire in the future." We very much regret that we have not the space to spare for a detailed review of the contents of this " Atlas," and we can only give just a brief outline of what is given. In the main, it contains a large number of maps of various countries, or sections thereof, showing not only the air routes, but the date on which the first flight was made. Accompanying these maps is some descriptive matter, briefly giving the air history of that country. Then there are sections dealing with the "following subjects:—"Aircraft: The Servants of Commerce ; Insurance against Air Risks ; Forwarding Goods by Air ; How to Use the Air Mails ; Countries Issuing Special Stamps ; Air Post Terms ; Some Long-Distance Flights ; The Balloon Posts of Paris ; Collecting Souvenirs of the Air ;" &c. Thus, it will be seen that in spite of the fact that this work is the first of its kind, it is remarkably comprehensive, and the suggestions for improvements asked for by the publishers will, we think, require some finding. Ill
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