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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0076.PDF
FEBRUARY 3, 1927 CORRESPONDENCE [The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents. The names and addresses of the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters intended for insertion in these columns.] THE SAFETY FUEL TANK [2149] In the AIRCRAFT ENGINEER supplement of your current issue Capt. Boothby, in his interesting article on this subject, refers to the gases in the upper part of a petrol tank as being an " explosive mixture." I have investigated this matter on various occasions with a match, and, so far, I have always found that the mixture is so rich that it can onlv burn where its surfaces is in contact with the air, and that the match is extinguished on penetrating the mixture. I have carefully avoided putting a match to large containers unless there was sufficient petrol in them, and it had had sufficient time to saturate the air ; for until then the mixture itself will usually be combustible : this is easily demonstrated on a small scale. Capt. Boothby can surely never have dropped a match into a partly-filled petrol tin, or he would have seen that, instead of the " evil results " he predicts, the vapour buni^ quite tamely at the opening, and can be put out by placing one's hand on it. (This forms an amusing study in knee- flutter if practiced on, say, a fire insurance inspector who should know better ; but don't wait till the brass is too hot.) It therefore follows that in a crash the vapour must be exposed to the air in much the same wa\" as must the petrol before it will burn—instead of being " ready to ignite," as Capt. Boothby states. Regarding dropping a match into liquid petrol, a flame will certainly be started as the match passes the boundary between the air and the vapour which is leaving the petrol surface. If a layer of inert gas were interposed nothing would catch fire, but if a match were used (not its tip) it would be extinguished by the layer (if thick) before reaching the petrol. In pointing out these circumstances in which petrol is tame, I do not wish to obscure the fact that when exposed to the air in large areas it is furious. West Ealing, W. E. GRAY January 29, 1927. The Heat in the Heart of Africa ! ONE letter in a word often makes a lot of difference. Such was the case regarding the Bristol Aeroplane Co.'s advertisement in last week's issue of FLIGHT. Referring to Lieut. Bernard's Madagascar flight, a paragraph in this advertisement read " . . then steadily southwards and eastwards through the very heat of Africa . . ." While we do not deny the temperature in this part of the world in somewhat high, we wish to point out that this sentence should have read " heart of Africa ". Possibly our compositor felt the cold rather more than usual when setting up this paragraph ! R.A.F. Recruiting THE Air .Ministry announces that the Headquarters of the Inspector of Recruiting and the London Recruiting Depot of the R.A.F., which since shortly after the war have been centred at Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, will, from January 31, be located at Gwydyr House, Whitehall, S.W.I. Inter-Services Rugby THREE very interesting Rugby matches are to be played shortly at the Twickenham ground, in two of which the R.A.F. take part. We refer to the Inter-Services Tourna- ment between the Army, Navy and Air Force. The dates of the three matches have been fixed as follows :—February 19, R.A.F. v. Navy ; March 5, Army v. Navy ; March 26, R.A.F. v. Army. Institution of Aeronautical Engineers (ManchesterBranch) THE Manchester Branch of the Institution of Aeronautical Engineers has just been reconstructed on sound and pro- gressive lines. The branch is under the chairmanship of Mr. R. H. Dobson—Works Manager of A. V. Roe and Co., Ltd.—so that a successful future for this Manchester Branch may be taken for granted, bearing in mind that gentleman's energy and enthusiasm. The Hon. Secretary and Treasurer is Mr. A. Dennison Scarlett, M.I.Ae.E., of Foxbank Street, C.-on-M., Manchester. R.A.F. Units for China IN connection with precautionary measures taken by the Government regarding the trouble in China, aircraft are repre- sented by three aircraft carriers, namely, H.M.S. " Vindic- tive," " Hermes," and " Argus." The units on the two former are as follows :— H.M.S. " Vindictive " (cruiser, China station, carrying aircraft) : No. 401 (Fleet Fighter) Flight—Fairey " Fly- catcher." No. 444 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight—Fairey 1II.D. H.M.S. " Hermes" (aircraft carrier, Mediterranean): No. 403 (Fleet Fighter) Flight—" Flycatcher." No. 440 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight—Fairey III.D. H.M.S, " Argus " (aircraft carrier) has only just been com- missioned, and it is not possible to obtain an official state- ment of the units allotted to her. Press reports have stated that the following flights will be allotted : No. 406 (Fleet Fighter) Flight—" Flycatcher " (from Donibristle). No. 443 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight—Fairey III.D. (from H.M.S. " Furious," Leuchars). No. 442 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight—-Fairey III.D. (from Leuchars). It has also been announced that No. 402 (Fleet Fighter) Flight ("Flycatcher") from H.M.S. "Eagle" (Mediter- ranean) will be transferred to the " Argus." A flight of the Fleet air arm, it may be mentioned, consists of six first line machines, but in cases of emergency reserve machines will also have to be carried. Wi W. W. W, NEW COMPANIES REGISTERED THE BRITISH SCHOOL OF FLYING, LTD., 5 and 6, Coventry Street,W.I.—Capital £100 in l.s". shares. Objects : To establish and maintain in London and elsewhere institutions for instructing and training persons inthe science of aeronautics, and all other kinds of engineering and aviation, etc. First directors, S. C. H. Roberts, E. W. Walton (both directors of the BritishSchool of Motoring, Ltd.). EMMS, THORNE & SHEEHY, LTD., 215, Richmond Road, Kingstou-on-Thames.—Capital, £100 in £1 shares, .4i<ronautical (sic), electrical, motor and general engineers, garage proprietors, manufacturers of and dealers inaeroplanes, airships. Life directors, S. Emms, T. Thorne, T. P. Sheehy. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED Aluminium Facts and Figures. The British Aluminium Co., Ltd., Adelaide House, King William Street, London, E.G.4. The Air Pilot Monthly Supplement. No. 27. January, 1927. Air Ministry, Kingsway, London, W.C.2. Theory and Practice in the Hardening Shop. Heat Treatment Bulletin, No. 37. January, 1927. Automatic and Electric Furnaces, Ltd., 173-175, Farringdon Road, London, E.C.I. AERONAUTICAL PATENT SPECIFICATIONS Abbreviations: Cyl. — cylinder; i.e.— internal combustion; in. - motor The numbers in brackets are those under which the Specifications will be printed and abridged, etc.) APPLIED FOR IN 1925Published 1-cbruury .'!, 1927 19,834 E. !•:. J. and E. A. M. BONNKAI . Automatic controlling means foraircraft, torpedoes, &c. (2.'-W,242.) 22,422. A. HALI.-BKOWX. Supercharging of internal-combustion engines. (263,907.) 25,922. Si PEKMAKISE AVIATION WORKS. LTD., and K. J. MITCHELL. Aircraft. (263,968.)A. G. BARRETT. Aerial advertising. (263,986.) J. DE LA CIHRVA. Aircraft with rotative wings. (263,988.) APPLIED FOR IN 1926Published February 3, 1927 E. E. J. and E. A. M. BOXNEAU. Automatic controlling-means foraircraft torpedoes, &c. (264,115.) FLIGHT, The Aircraft Engineer and Airships 36, GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C.2 Telephone; Gerrard 1828. Telegraphic address : Truditur, Westcent, London. 28,983.29,175, 32,878. "FLIGHT" SUBSCRIPTION RATES UNITED KINGDOM 3 Months, Post Free.. 7 6 „ ,, ..15 12 „ „ ..30 d. 7 2 4 ABROAD* 3 Months, Post Free 6 12 s. d. . 8 3.16 (i .33 0 * Foreign subscriptions must be remitted in British currency. Cheques and Post Office Orders should be made payable to the Proprietors of " FLIGHT," and crossed Westminster Bank. Should 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. 64
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