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Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0798.PDF
and the other some 160 ft. to the rear—by means of a centralquick-release attachment to the top plane centre section, there being struts coming from the airship to points on theport and starboard wings (top) and on the fuselage, near the tail, respectively, to prevent the machine oscillating(not the wireless variety !) Located in the airship was a Bristol gas starter, whichwas connected to the " Jaguars " of each " Grebe " by means of flexible piping. Access to each machine from thekeel of the airship was made by means of a rope ladder from openings in the keel just above each machine. Having been successfully manhandled from her shed,R.33 rose gracefully into the air, and was soon cruising overhead at between 2,000—3,000 ft. After circling overthe station thus for about an hour and a half, the two pilots, equipped with parachutes, climbed into their respectivemachines. Shortly after the " Jaguar " engines were started up ;the engine of the rear machine got going properly, but the front engine went on strike and refused to be started. Thus,at 10.17 a.m., Flying Officer Mackenzie-Richards, pilot of the rear " Grebe " pulled his release lever, and the " Grebe "dropped swiftly from the airship. It fell some 100 ft. before its pilot obtained full control and got his engine going allout—this, by the way, is indicated graphically in one of our accompanying illustrations—but as soon as this hap-pened, it gambolled gaily in the air as if glad to be free, at last, from the maternal apron strings. F/O. Mackenzie-Richards eventually made a successful landing. Apparently, they were still unable to start the engine ofthe second machine, for soon after the first machine was launched, the R.33 headed for Cardington, with " Grebe "No. 2 still in position, and it was not until 11.40 a.m., when the R.33 arrived over this place, that the engine got goingand F/O. Ragg also released himself, and made an equally successful descent. In each case, the speed of the R.33 at <$> <$> OCTOBETK 28, 1926 the moment of release was about 30 m.p.h., for unlike launch-ing an aeroplane from seacraft, it is essential that the air- ship's speed should be much less than that of the aeroplane,in order that the latter may quickly fall clear of the airship. On the other hand, it is not essential when launching an aero-plane from an airship for the latter to fly head to wind, whereas the marine aircraft carrier must do so, and, of course,speed is a helpful factor. Launching the two Grebes, however, was not the onlytest carried out that day by R.33, for during the flight from Pulham to Cardington, tests were made in connection withthe method of calculating the exact altitude of aircraft by means of acoustics. In this method use is made of the speedat which sound travels, which being a known and unvarying factor, enables extremely accurate calculations. The procedure adopted in this method of altitude measur-ing is as follows : A detonator is suspended a known distance (in this case, 100 ft.) below the airship, and the charge isexploded by electrical means. A special instrument in the control car records the time that elapses between the explosionand the exact moment at which the echo returns to the air- ship—or, in other words, the time taken for the sound of theexplosion to travel to the ground, or sea, and back again to the airship, and, therefore, the speed of sound being known,the distance the sound had to travel. In Thursday's tests, a study was made of the different character of the echo asaffected by varying ground conditions, and we believe some valuable data was obtained. At the conclusion of the tests, R.33 was berthed in thelarge shed at Cardington—where R.101 is under construction —but, unfortunately, during the landing operations, someslight damage was caused to the airship by some rather violent " bumps." We understand, however, the damagewas not serious, and R.33 was safely housed and the two Grebes " attached once more into position in readiness fora visit of the Dominions Premiers. THE ROYAL AERO CLUB OF THE U.K. OFFICIAL NOTICES TO MEMBERS A JOINT Meeting of the Royal Aero Club, Racing Committee, and the Society of British Aircraft Constructors was held at the Royal Aero Club, 3, Clifford Street, W.I. on Wednesday, October 20, 1926, when the following were present :— Royal Aero Club.—Air Vice-Marshal Sir W. S. Brancker,K.C.B., in the Chair ; Lieut-Col. W. A. Bristow ; Lieut.-Col- M. O. Darby ; Lord Edward A. Grosvenor ; Major R. H.Mayo ; Capt. C. B. Wilson, M.C. ; Howard T. Wright. Society of British Aircraft Constructors.—Commander James Bird ; H. Burroughes ; F. M. Green ; John Lord ; T. O. M. Sopwith, C.B.E. ; H. T. Vane. In attendance :—H. E. Perrin, Secretary, R.Ae.C. ; C. V.Allen, Secretary, S.B.A.C. The Club submitted proposals for the races for 1927 which included the King's Cup, Aerial Derby and Grosvenor Challenge Cup. It was decided to further consider these proposals next month ROYAL AERO CLUB MONTHLY DINNERS The Royal Aero Club will commence its Winter MonthlyDinners on Wednesday, November 10, next. These dinners are held at the Club and Members wishing to attead arerequested to notify the Secretary as early as possible as the accommodation is limited to 60. The subject for discussion has not yet been definitely settled. Offices : THE ROYAL AERO CLUB, 3, CLIFFORD STREET, LONDON, W. 1. H. E. PERRIN, Secretary LIGHT 'PLANE CLUB DOINGS London Aeroplane Club.THE total flying during the week was 57 hours and 50 minutes. The following members had dual instruction :—Lady Bailey, H. Spooner,S. H. J. Game, W. L. S. McCleod, J. L. Gardner, C. H. Tutt, V. H. Doree, J. G. Crammond, A. J. Richardson, S. C. Richards, J. J. Hofer, O. J. Mar-strand, R. A. St. Tohn, K. A. Lingard, P. W. Hoare, F. C. Elford, H. R. Pres- land, G. N. Howei P. G. Lucas, D. P. H. Esler, S. O. Bradshaw, M. P. Susman,H. F. Wright, Miss O'Brian, G. W. Hall, L. Martin. The following members made solo flights :—P. G. Lucas, E. S. Brough,A. H. M. Lees, A. R. Ogston, W. Hay, Lady Bailey, Miss O'Brian, O. J. Tapper, H. Petre, S. O. Bradshaw, N. T. Hulbert, N. Jones, W. Roche Kelly, Mrs. S. C.Eliott-Lynn, J. J. Barros, E."L. O. Baddeley, H. F. Wright. On Monday, October 18, 1926, Lady Bailey, Miss O'Brian and J. J. Barrosall successfully completed the tests for their Aviator's Certificates. Joy rides were given to the following members : C. F. Stocks, C. G. Miese,gras, J. Plisich. Miss Marks, J. L. Gardner, P. W. Hoare, R. Malcolm, R. Andrews.Hampshire Aeroplane Club REPORT for week ending October 21.—Very high winds and rain havecurtailed flying during this week, weather conditions being quite impossible on two days out of the seven. The total flying time, for the week was 9 hrs.20 mins. ; instruction flying, 6 hrs. 25 mins. ; solo flying, 2 hrs. 30 mins. ; Passenger flying, 25 mins.The following members received instruction :—Messrs. Rumble 1 hr., Bishop 50 mins., Southcliffe 50 mins., Bound 40 mins., Moloney 40 mins.,Courtney W., 20 mins.. Stokes 25 mins., Dickson 20 mins., Bailey 15 mins., Kerry 15 mins., Cooper in mins., Van den Bergh 10 mins., Perfect 5 mins.,and Lieut. Graham, R.N. 25 mins. Two joy riders braved the elements, viz. :—Mrs. Hoare and Lieut.-Com-mander Tucker, R.N. In spite of the adverse weather conditions, Mr. Perfect, who flew his firstsolo last week, took the air nearly every day and put up a really good show. Mr. D. Rumble successfully flew his first solo on Tuesday, within a few weeksof taking his nrst joy-ride. Other soloists were-AIessrs. S. Fry, K. P. L. Bowen, Flying-Officer Brodie and• ast but not least, Capt. F. T. Courtney, the well-known test pilot with^ Senor De la Cierva of Autogyro fame, as passenger. Capt. Courtney demon-strated that his almost vertical descents on the Autogyro have not impaired his skill in effecting the more usual type of landing. Yorkshire Aeroplane Club. REPORT for the week ending October 20 :—Total flying ti»e, 14 hrs.35 mins. Solo time, 3 hrs. 50 mins. The following members flew solo : Messrs. Fielden, Wood, Norway, and Lax. Instruction, 10 hrs. 45 mills. Thefollowing members took dual instruction with Captain West ; Messrs. Williams, Wormald. Watson, Ambler, L. Dawson, Harvey, Gratwick, Pigg, Maon, Lister,Captain Beaumont. -_ j w| ? On the first three days of this week Captain West was taking a busman'sholiday at Brough to do his R.A.F. Reserve training, so that our flying time is rather below the average. However, we have several pupils ready to go solo,and we hope that by the time this report appears Messrs. Mann and Dawson will have been launched. Early this week G-EBLS was at Brough, where Mr. Fielden managed tofly it with one hand and shoot a wild goose with the other. The goose was seen to go spinning down out of control, but a careful search later failed toreveal the body ; under these circumstances it is felt that the gooee may be one up on Mr. Fielden. Mr. Rimmer has been with us on his Avro for the last ten days. After twonights spent in holding the machine down in a field he came to the conclusion that it was time he had some sleep, and so has been flying daily from theaerodrome while carrying out a photographic survey of a part oi Leeds for Messrs. Aerofilms. We have it on the highest authority that two members have bought apig (less engine) in a poke. The breed has not yet been ascertained, but we are told that it is a two-seater suitable for a six-cylinder in-line engine. Wehear that a radial Anzani of pre-war vintage and doubtful power is available for it, and that the trial flights will be carried out by Captain West. No state-ment has been received from Captain West upon this matter. At any rate, we are assured that it will not be allowed to join the Wren,whose owner continues to regard it thoughtfully. A brief interview with Squadron-Leader Longton, who described in a few" well-chosen words how themachine should be flown to get out of our aerodrome, has not materially assisted the Wren into the air.The Bluebird is still with us, but by the time these notes appear it will ""have gone to Croydon to show the Dominion Premiers the sort of aeroplaneswe build in Yorkshire. We understand that it is then proceeding to Martle- sham for its official trials. 706
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