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Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0615.PDF
AUGUST 26, 1926 THE SHORT "MUSSEL" LIGHT SEAPLANE A Two-Seater Performing Weil on but 65 B.H.P. IN our issue of March 11, 1926, we described and illustrated a little two-seater light seaplane, the S.7, designed and con- structed by Short Brothers of Rochester. At the time the machine was still in course of construction, and so flying pictures and the like could not be given. The machine has now, however, been finished and some " teething troubles " experienced in the beginning have, so far as we are able to judge, been entirely overcome. In view of the fact that rumours had got about to the effect that this machine was underpowered for a seaplane, that it would not get off in a calm, that its ceiling was about 100 ft. and similar ridiculous allegations, perhaps we may be forgiven for referring to this subject in rather more detail than would otherwise be neces- sary. When " motor gliders" first came on the scene the question that very naturally arose was whether or not such low-powered aircraft could be got over the " hump speed " when designed as seaplanes. On the face of it this did not seem likely, the power reserve being rather small. In the meantime, however, the power of light 'planes has increased considerably over and above what was once thought necessary and the light 'plane clubs are using " Moths " with 65 h.p. "Cirrus" engines. The advent of this engine very naturally opened up once more the question of the low-power seaplane and Short Brothers, with many years' experience in sea- plane design behind them, were among the first to tackle it seriously, having already produced, in the " Cockle " with two Black- burne " Tomtit " engines, a little seaplane with an excellent performance for the power. The "Mussel" as the S.7 is called, was produced for the " Cirrus " engine, and it may be stated that in this instance rumour was based upon a certain amount of fact, although naturally the " Mussel " was by no means as hopeless as alleged. The climb was not spectacular at first. Neither was the get-off. It was suspected that ['' FLIGHT '' Photograph THE SHORT "MUSSEL" : Mr. Lankester Parker puts the machine into a vertical bank. The " Mussel " now gets off in a very short time. When we saw the machine fly last week there was a fairly strong breeze blowing, and the machine leapt off the water in something like 50 or 60 yards, and climbed quite strongly. It appeared to be very manoeuvrable, and Mr. Lankester Parker repeatedly flew it in what seemed to be the stalled condition, without the machine evincing any signs of a tendency to drop its nose or go into a spin. In fact, the lateral control appeared very effective even past the stall. Some of our photographs, published on p. 538, show the machine on the water, and the absence of spray will be noticed. The floats are in fact remarkably " clean," and are well up to the very high standard set in this respect by previous Short float design. Like the fuselage the floats are made entirely of Duralumin, and in this connection it is of interest to refer briefly to another Short machine, the little " Cockle " with two Black bur ne "Tomtit" engines. This machine is now three years old, and has been at Felixstowe for tests for a long time. On the day of our visit to Rochester, the machine had just been received back from Felixstowe and the paint had been cleaned off in order to examine the condition of the Duralumin hull. With the exception of about three holes in the region of the rear step, where corrosion had eaten through the plating, the hull appeared to be as good as the day it was built. The corrosion at this par- ticular point is thought to be due to an enclosed step which did not allow of proper ventilation, and by a minor change in design it should be possible to avoid this, when it seems permissible to assume that no corrosion will take place. In view of the very interest- ing and ambitious work which Short Brothers are now carrying out on very large seaplanes, this fact is important and gives ground for hope that the corrosion " scare " as applied to Duralumin need not be permitted to loom too large in the future. Mr. Oswald Short has held this an unsuitable propeller might be partly responsible, but view for years, and is beginning to be proved correct although improvements were effected by different propellers TT "" ~i"™ +" ^° " *'"•=«•' " +1— ™^>™ r the machine was still not what it ought to be. The next step was to cover up the rather abrupt angles where the low monoplane wing met the fuselage. A light fabric fairing was attached, changing sharp angles into flat and smooth curves, and when the machine was next tested its speed, climb However, to return to the " Mussel," this machine can now definitely be said to be a really practical proposition, and should be of great value as a cheap and economical training machine, as well as a most suitable seaplane for the private owner. It is shortly to be fitted with a land undercarriage, and it will be interesting to see how it then compares for and get-off were improved out of all recognition. We mention performance with other aeroplanes of approximately the this as a very interesting example of the importance in aircraft design of the interference effect between component parts. same type and power. Certainly, as a seaplane the " Mussel is quite a remarkable machine. The New A.N.E.C. Light 'Plane FINDING that there was apparently some confusion in the minds of those interested in the forthcoming Light 'Plane Competition as to the type of the A.N.E.C. IV machine entered for it, the manufacturers wish to make it clear that it is an entirely new model, a biplane in fact, quite different, therefore, from the monoplanes entered in previous com- petitions, and have decided to call it by the distinctive name of A.N.E.C. " Missel Thrush," which, appropriately enough, brings in the name of the engine fitted to it. " Norge I " Sold to Italy THE semi-rigid airship " Norge I," on which Capt. Amundsen made his flight to the North Pole, has been sold to the Italian Government. 539
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