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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0321.PDF
MAY 12, 1927 THE ROHRBACH " ROCCO '' : This view of the hull lying on its side gives a good idea of the placing of the cock-pit, hatch covers, etc. Note the longitudinal flutings which stiffen the deck so as to enable the crew to walk along it. Aft of the cabin is a lavatory and aft of that again is the luggage and goods compartment, which is entered through a hatch in the deck, and which measures 1 -5 m. (4 ft. 11 ins,) in length with an average width of 1 -3 in. (4 ft. 3 ins.). Special provision has been made for lashing the luggage in such a way as to prevent it from shifting. Power Plant The engines used in the Rohrbach " Kocco " are Rolls- Royce " Condors " Series III of 650 h.p. each. They are supported on tubular structures above the wing and neatly cowled in. It is claimed that with this high position of the engines, the tractor air screws are well clear of any spray that might be thrown up in a rough sea. Behind the engines and inside the cowling are the two oil tanks, while the petrol tanks form the leading edge of the wings near the hull. It is claimed that by having no petrol in the hull and with the tanks exposed in this manner, there is practically no fire risk, as any petrol fumes are instantly blown away. Needless to say, however, fire extinguishers are carried and all the usual precautions taken against fire. The low position of the tanks in relation to the engines has, of course, necessitated the use of petrol pumps, but it is claimed that these are now so reliable that little added risk of breakdown of the petrol system arises through their use. The modern practice in this country is, of course, to place the petrol tanks on the top plane, but in a monoplane like the Rohrbach this was natu- rally not possible, and instead the designer has chosen the arrangement described. A very complete wireless equipment is carried on board consisting of sending and receiving apparatus for both tele- phony and telegraphy. When the machine is in flight the necessary current is produced by a windmill-driven generator, but another generator is carried in the hull and driven by the Bristol gas starter, so that should the machine be forced to descend, a small wireless pole carried on board can be erected and messages sent out from the auxiliary aerial. Dr. Rohrbach was, we believe, the first designer to provide masts and sails for a flying-boat, so that in case of total engine failure the machine should be able to proceed under sail to the nearest coast or port, and in the " Rocco " such an equipment is provided. Following are the Rocco " : — Specification lain characteristics of the Rohrbach Length, o.a. Wing span Wing area Tank capacity Weight of machine bare Service equipment Total empty weight Fixed equipment Loose equipment Crew of 3 Consumable load 10 passengers Luggage Total load carried Total loaded weight Permissible overload Highest permissible total loaded weight F'ull speed at sea level at normal load Cruising speed Landing speed Climb to 1,000 m. in 5 S mins.— Absolute ceiling Range with normal load and at crui- sing speed Range at full permissible load with full tanks and at cruising speed These figures are guaranteed tc 19-3 m. (63 ft. 3 ins.) 26 m. (85 ft. 3 ins.). 94 sq.m. (1,010 sq. ft.). 3,800 litres (836 galls.). 5.790 kg. (12,750 lbs.). 200 kg. (440 lbs.). 5,990 kg. (13,190 lbs.) 460 kg. (1,010 lbs.). 400 kg. (880 lbs.). 250 kg. (550 lbs.). 1.600 kg. (3,520 lbs.). 750 kg. (1,650 lbs.). 150 kg. (330 lbs.). 3,610 kg. (7,940 lbs.). 9.600 kg. (21,130 lbs). 900 kg. (1,980 lbs.). 10,500 kg. (23,110 lbs.). 220 km./h. (136-5 m.p.h.). 168 km./h. (104-3 m.p.h.). 115 km.'h. (69-3 m.p.h.). 3,150 m. (10,350 ft.). 1,300 km. (808 miles). 2,400 km. (1,490 miles) ± 5 per cent. Imperial Airship Routes THE presence in Canada of Major G. H. Scott. ()rhcer-in-J1 'l[Re of flying and training at the Royal Airship Works, du.mgton, who is conferring with the Minister of National ^ ---nee and the Chief of the Canadian General Staff, is Ce'i'•"•]i"g Publlc interest in aviation. The Toronto City ami' + lnvltwl -Major Soctt to be the guest of the city, tin. t0,stud>' local airship mast sites, having visions of the In -1 , .Toronto ma>" ht' the Western terminal of British mV'- > Alrw"a>'s- Montreal believes that its position and"i tu!ia naturaI Point for an inland terminal, whilst Halifax Nai:Mni n t^ also evincinP k«>n interest. The Minister of mocW Uefence, Mr. Ralston, states that an order for a :\,ojm has been Placed in Great Britain, a part of the ng made in Canada. For exactly the same purpose, Group-Captain P. F. M. Fellowes. Director of Airship Develop- ment, accompanied by Mr. M. A. Giblett, Superintendent of the Airship Section of the Meterological Officer* has gone to South Africa, and will then go to Australia and New Zealand, returning to England via India towards the end of October. A Martlesham Retirement SQUAD.-LEADER T. H. ENGLAND, who has been officer commanding at Martlesham Heath Experimental Station for the past two years, has resigned his commission to become chief technical adviser on the flying side to Handley Page, Ltd. He joined the R.N.A.S. in 1914, flew the first American flying-boat in this country, served with the Mediterranean Fleet and the Grand Fleet, and went to Iraq after the war for duty before commanding at Martlesham Heath. 289 c
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