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Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0981.PDF
DECEMBER 16, 1926 THE AIR ROUTE TO INDIA Wireless Equipment on the De Havilland Air Liners DURING his recent flight to Australia Sir Alan Cobhamemphasised the importance to long distance commercial flying service of good ground organisation, wireless communi-cation, and weather reports. These details are being very carefully organised in con-nection with the new air route to Egypt and India which is being opened by ImperialAirways at the beginning of next year. The giant DH 66 multiple-engined aircraft, de-scribed in FLIGHT for July 10 and November4, last, which will fly on this route will be fitted with the latest type of Marconi 150-watt, All-Purpose, Telephone-Telegraph Air- craft Equipment, Type AD 6, so that theymay be in constant touch with ground stations throughout the journey. These in-stallations have been especially modified to suit the conditions existing on this new route.The most interesting development is the employment for the first time of a generatorwhich provides power both for the internal and external lighting of the aeroplane andfor the wireless installation. In the past these two requirements have always beentreated separately with the consequent pro- vision of two generators, and thereforeadditional " head resistance." The generator employed will incorporateother special features inasmuch as it will be driven by a newly-designed, automatic, con-stant-speed propeller which will maintain the voltage of the machine constant, undervarying conditions of load, over an air speed range of approximately 60 to 130 miles perhour. Moreover, in the unlikely event of a forced landing being necessary the samegenerator can be used to supply emergency power to the transmitter either by the use ofthe battery normally used for lighting, or, alternatively, if it is desired to work for longperiods, by means of a special coupling arrangement to the small petrol engine usedfor starting the main engines. Thus even if a machine were forced to landin the solitudes of the desert country which is to be found along almost the entire route, itwould be an easy matter to establish wireless communication with the nearest groundstation and obtain any required assistance. The AD 6 set is arranged to work on Tele-phony or Telegraphy up to ranges of 300-400 miles, and since a chain of Marconi Aerodrome ground stationsis being established by the Air Ministry and the various governments concerned at frequent intervals throughout theroute the machines will never be out of calling distance of a wireless station. The wireless requirements of this route have been the subjectof very careful consideration by the authorities concerned, and it can safelv be stated that the system of communi ca- THE MARCONI TYPE A.D.6 WIRELESS INSTALLATION : Ourpicture shows this important equipment as fitted in the Handley Page W.9 " Hampstead " of Imperial Airways. On the right willbe seen the aerial coiled up on its winch, next to the instrument box (normally completely enclosed) which contains both transmitterand receiver. The remote control switches will be seen to the right of and above the steering wheel. This installation will be fitted,specially modified, in the D.H. 66 Cairo-Karachi machines. tions provided both for the ground and in the aeroplaneswill render the Cairo-Karachi route among the safest in the world. A general idea of the installation may beobtained from the above illustration of an A.D.6 set in the Handley Page W.9 air liner. French Madagascar Flight LIEUT. BERNARD, who succeeded in flying from Marseilles to Madagascar via Central Africa, started on his return flight on December 11, when he crossed to the mainland at Mozambique. On the trip home he will follow the Great Lakes and Nile Valley route. Italian Air Accidents OFFICIAL figures of the Italian Air Ministry show that in eleven months ended October 31 there were twenty military aeroplane accidents, resulting in twenty-two persons being killed and four seriously injured. Aero Golfing Society THE Annual Dinner of the Aero Golfing Society will be held at the Royal Aero Club on December 30, at 7 for 7.30 p.m. Dinner 7s. 6d. Morning dress. Members of the Aero Golfing Society who are not members of the Royal Aero Club, will be elected honorary members for the day. The Annual Meeting of the Society will be held during the dinner, when the new captain will be elected. It is hoped that al' members will make a special effort to be present. Members are requested to notify the Secretary beforehand that they will attend. The Royal Air Force ClubTHE Royal Air Force Club will be closed for the Christmas Holidays from midnight on Christmas Da ', until 5 p.m. onTuesday, December 28, except in so far as affects bedroom accommodation (with breakfast only) to residents andmembers who have engaged bedrooms prior to noon on Christmas Day. H.M. Aircraft Carrier "Argus." COMMISSIONED on November 23 for trials, after a longrefit, the aircraft-carrier Argus (Captain A. R. Palmer) is to pay off and temporarily recommission with a reserve crewat Chatham on December 21, before recommissioning -ior service in the Atlantic Fleet, in which she was replaced bythe Furious. This Fleet will then have two carriers, like that in the Mediterranean, although at the moment one ofthe two in the latter Fleet, the Hermes, has been lent to the China Station. 837
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