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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0104.PDF
CORRESPONDENCE 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 [2151] I regret that 1 did not express myself more clearly in my article in THE AIRCRAFT ENGINEER on " The Problem of the Safety Fuel Tank," and am indebted to Mr. \V. E. Gray for giving me an opportunity of making my meaning plain. Except in the case indicated by Mr. Gray, the mixture of air and petrol vapour inside a fuel tank is not explosive. On a crash occurring, air immediately mingles with this mixture and it is then ready to ignite. Such ignition 1 term " evil results " whether the effect is explosion or ordinary combustion. London, February 8, 1927. F. L. M. BOOTHBY THE "EVERLING" QUANTITIES [2152] With reference to Mr. Vanier's suggestion (see THE AIRCRAFT ENGINEER, January 27, 1927, p. 7) that " high- speed factor " would be a better translation than " high- speed figure," I would like to support your translator in his choice of the word "figure." It is true that the Germans frequently use the word " zahl " where we use " coefficient " or " factor,"—e.g., Rnbimgszahl = coefficient of friction. The Everting Quantities are not, however, used as a factor in any equation,~such as " load factor," for instance. They arc ratios used for comparative purposes to indicate the qualities of different machines, somewhat similar to the " Index Figures " used by " The Statist." As it is of importance to use terms that are self-descriptive, I would like to suggest that we use the expressions " Speed Index Figure," " Distance Index Figure," and " Altitude Index Figure," until the terms are thoroughly familiar, when they might be shortened to " Speed Index," &c. It is of historical interest to note that, in an article in the Berichte und Abhandlungen der W.G.L." for April, 1923 (Heft 10), Professor Everling defines his Speed Index Figure as the propeller efficiency divided by the gliding angle — =••• t) — I, whereas he now defines it as ——. 6 wy Cw In conclusion, I would like to suggest that the article would have appealed to a far wider circle if the German symbols and units had been converted into the corresponding English ones. A technical article in strange symbols is enough to make even a Stress-merchant sit up and take notice ! ERIC C. GIBBONS, A.F.R.Ae.S. Maida Vale, N.W.6. February 2, 1927. [As regards the change in definition of " High-Speed Figure " to which Mr. Gibbons refers, a footnote in Dr. Everling's original article in the " ZFM " for May 28, 1926, explains this by referring to an article by H. Hermann in " ZFM" of November 30, 1920. As was stated in the introductory remarks to our translation of Dr. Everling's article which appeared in THE AIRCRAFT ENGINEER of Novem- ber 25, 1926, the original article was accompanied by a number of footnotes, but in view of the fact that but few of our readers would be likely to have access to the German publica- tions referred to, we did not include a translation of the footnotes. We sympathise with our contributor in his desire for English units to be substituted for the German ones used in the translation, but perhaps he will draw some consolation from the fact that in the next issue of THE AIRCRAFT ENGINEER we shall publish an article on this subject, in which the author, Mr. H. A. Mettam, shows how to convert the Everling quantities into British units. In any case, as we pointed out in our introduction to Dr. Everling's article, as the object of the " Everling Quanti- ties " is to afford a means of comparing various machines, foreign with one another and with British, it is rather essential that a uniform system of units be employed.—ED.] m m m m AIR MINISTRY NOTICE TO AIRMENOstende (Steene) Aerodrome : Sheep Grazing IT is notified :—1. Sheep grazing is allowed on the aerodrome at the following times :— Winter .. .. 1000 to 1400 hours.Summer .. .. 0900 to 1230 hours and 1600 to 2100 hours. There will always be a clear space across the aerodrome, at least 100 metresin width, in a direction varying with the direction of the wind. Pilots are advised, whenever possible, to make a complete circuit of the aerodromebefore landing. (No. 7 of 1927.) -FEBRUARY 17, 1927 Wit and Wisdom from " The Overseas Airman " (Aboukir) WE cull the following items from our Service contem- porary, " The Overseas Airman "—a journal of the Royal Air Force beyond the seas, published at Aboukir:— The morning after the night before (or at Christmas lime.). Airman, in bod, after matching his pal rummaging around his locker for some time : " What are you looking for ? " His pal : " Nothing." Airman in bed : " You'll not find it there, you'll find it in that bottle on my locker where the whiskey was." Commanding Officer : '' Do you always acknowledge it when you know you are wrong ? " Airman : " No, sir, only when other people know it." Cockney Airman ; " What's yer nime, mite ? " Yorky ditto : " Fred." Cockney Airman : " Fred ! That ain't a nime, its the stuff yer sew buttons on wiv." Heard on Fatigue. Sergt. to Rookie : (Well off) ? " Here, Brown, you are not going to bring water in those disreputable trousers, are you ? " Brown : " 'Er, No, Sergeant, I am bringing it in this jolly old bucket, what ! " An advertisement for a new baby's feeding bottle ran as follows :—" When the baby has done drinking, it must be unscrewed, and laid in a cool place under the tap. If the baby does not thrive on fresh milk it should be boiled." M 3$ M M IMPORTS AND EXPORTS, 1925-1926 AEROPLANES, airships, balloons and parts thereof (not shown separately before 1910). For 1910 and 1911 figures see FLIGHT for January 25, 1912. For 1912 and 1913, see FLIGHT for January 17, 1914. For 1914, see FLIGHT for January 15, 1915, and so on yearly, the figures for 1926 being given in FLIGHT, January 20, 1927. Imports. Exports. Re-Exports. 1925. 1926. 1925. 1926. 1925. 1926. £ £ £ £ £ £ Jan. ..494 1,850 130,049 49,021 — — m m m m NEW COMPANY REGISTERED HENDERSON FLYING SCHOOL, LTD., Kibraz House, 15, CarringtonMews, Mayfair, W.l.—Capital £2,000 in £1 shares. Acquiring business of an instructor in aviation, aerial navigation and dealer in aeroplanes, aeroplaneengines, parachutes and the like component parts and earned on by Lt.-Col. G. L. P. Henderson at Croydon Aerodrome, Croydon, and 15, Carrington Mews,Mayfair, W. First directors :—Lt.-Col. G. L. P. Henderson, B. William. Secretary, W. Bertram. 3i "M M i$S PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED Bibliography of Aeronautics, 1923. U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Kolbcn fur Kraftfahrzeugmotoren. Deutsche Motor-Zeit- scrift G.m.b.H. Mtiller-Berset-Strasse 17, Dresden. AERONAUTICAL PATENT SPECIFICATIONS Abbreviations '. Cyl. = cylinder ; i.e. = internal combustion ; m. «= motor The numbers in brackets are those under which the Specifications willbe printed and abridged, etc.) APPLIED FOR IN 1925 Published February 17, 1927 18,983. H. B. STRAUSS. Flying-machines. (264,546.)26,915. C. G. RODECK. Mooring means for airships. (252,312.) 27,110. F. C. MORTON. Method for mounting blades of aircraft propeller. (264,603.) 28,754. H. J. POLLARD and BRISTOL AEROPLANE CO., LTD. Light-metal structures. (264,626.) 30,911. So'.. ANON, POUR L'EXPLOITATION DES BREVETS KUNZER. Apparatus for safely sending objects from aircraft to the ground. (260,932.) APPLIED FOR IN 1926 Published February 17, 1927 21,679. J. DE LA CIKKVA. Aircraft with rotative wings. (264,753.) FLIGHT, The Aircraft Engineer and Airships 36, GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C.2 Telephone : Gerrard 1828. Telegraphic address : Truditur, Westcent, London. 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. . 8 .16 ..33 d. 3 6 0 • Foreign subscriptions must be remitted in British currency. ,92
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