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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0615.PDF
AUGUST 11,19271 of these will always prove useful, and they can safely be leftunder the hedge between visits. Pegs Undoubtedly the best pegs for tying down a machine are the well-known screw pickets of barbed-wire days. A few of these can usually be picked up cheaply in any country town. The author has found, however, that much time can be saved by having a set of strong permanent pegs driven into the ground at the point where the machine is usually left. If about six of these are arranged in a circle (Fig. 4) "the heads being kept close to the ground, the aeroplane can be taxied to the centre and secured to any three pegs, according to the direction of the wind. This makes it possible to tie the machine perfectly firmly in a few moments. And as one lies in bed and hears a wind howling round the chimneys, it is very comforting to think that one's treasured means of trans- port is'adequately moored. Coverings Where an aeroplane is to be left out of doors regardless of weather, the question of cock-pit and engine covers becomes of vital importance. Properly maintained rigging and control wires will not suffer, and the doped parts of the machine will stand any amount of exposure. But engine and instruments must be perfectly protected if unnecessary risks are to be avoided. This means that covers must be somewhat more substantial than the light 'Willesden canvas usually provided. The best material for this purpose is called " dressed tar- paulin," and can be obtained from any wholesale merchant of motor hood and cover fabrics.' It is much superior to the rubber-proofed materials used for touring car hoods, since it is stronger and does not suffer from contact with oil as it is itself oil-dressed. It can be bought 50 ins. wide, so that it is easy to make covers any size. As it does not fray the edges can be left as cut. The best way to secure it to the machine is with turn- buttons (Fig. 5) which can be fixed with small wood-screws or bolts and nuts. The correct type of screw is called a " raised head " and is a cross between the " round head " and " countersunk " types. It is very easy to secure the eye- lets in the tarpaulin, and as screws, bolts, turn-buttons, eye-lets, etc., can all be bought nickel-plated, it is possible to make a very neat looking job. Filling Up One of the most annoying features of most aeroplanes is the difficulty of filling them with petrol. This process is apt to waste a lot of the private owner's time. Usually it is necessary at a private flying field to transport numerous cans to the machine and there wield them, perched in a precarious position on the fuselage or even on steps, while grasping a funnel and a chamois leather. Obviously, something like the Bowser wheeled tanks used on Service aerodromes would be much more convenient but unfortunately firms charge about /50 for such an outfit. It is possible, however, to fit up something almost as useful for a much smaller cost. Various firms selling Government disposal stores can supply excellent galvanised tanks very cheaply, suitable for petrol. It is also possible to buy for about 25s. a small semi-rotary pump which will deliver about 3 gallons a minute. The most expensive item is usually the petrol-proof hose which costs between 2s. and 35. per foot. With these components, a filling apparatus can be made up which will quickly repay its cost in time and trouble saved. The author's set, which cost about £5, comprises a 12-gallon tank, a pump with J-in. bore, and 12 ft. of hose, with nozzle. The tank can easily be filled at the nearest bulk supply, and taken to the flying field in the back of a car. Fig. 6 indicates the appearance of the pump and tank, which has not yet been fitted with wheels. Summary All those who have experienced air travel appreciate at once its advantage in speed over other means. But private owners will no doubt have found that these advantages are minimised unless careful ground organization is provided to make arrival and departure as convenient and quick as possible. Lucky indeed are those who can say to a well- trained chauffeur mechanic, " Smith, have her filled up, and warmed up by a quarter-to-seven. I'm dining in London.'* These notes are written in the hope that they may contain something of assistance even to these fortunate folk, as well as to those of us who are our own aerodrome staff. LIGHT 'PLANE CLUBS London Aeroplane Club, Stag Lane, Edgware. Sec, H. E. Perrin,3, Clifiord Street, London, W.I. Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club, Yate, Gloucester. Sec, C. S.Clarke, Channel Road, Walton Park, Clevedon, Somerset. Hampshire Aeroplane Club, Hamble, Southampton. Sec, Maj. RossWhite, Hamble, Southampton. Lancashire Aero Club, Woodford, Lanes. Sec, C. J. Wood, Oakneld,Dukinfield, near Manchester. Midland Aero Club, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham. Sec, Maj. GilbertDennison, 22, Villa Road, Handsworth, Birmingham. Newcastle-upon-Tyne Aero Club, Cramlington, Northumberland. Sec,A. H. Bell, c./o The Club. Norfolk and Norwich Aero Club, Household, Norwich. Sec, H. O.Bennett, 5, Opie Street, Norwich. The Scottish Aero Club Movement, 101, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.Sec.: Harry W. Smith. Suffolk Aeroplane Club, Ipswich.—Secretary, Courtney N. Prentice," Hazeldell," Stowmarket. Suffolk. Yorkshire Aeroplane Club, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Yorks. Sec, J. F.Barnes, 39, Swan Arcade, Bradford. BRISTOL *. WESSEX AEROPLANE CLUB TOTAL flying time for week ending August 6. 21 hours -in mins. Dualwith Mr. Bartlett :—Miss H. Pitman, Miss 0. Miles. Mrs. R. Stantou. Messrs. Hugh Clarke, R. S. Clarke. C. H. Brewer, DoWnes-Shaw'. Ashley Hall.C. Macaulcy, E. Pitman. Shaw, Tratm.m. Solo.—Eric Hopper. I hour 25 mins ; C. F. Twins, 5 mins.Passenger Mights With Mr. Bartlctt : V. Denies. 5 mins. : J. M. Paul. 10 mius. ; with Mr. Shaw :-• Miss S. Saunders. 15 miiis. : Mrs. Shaw, w mins.The Club has been fortunate in obtaining Mr. A. W. Webb as ground engineer, who was Mr. W. L. Hope's chief mechanic in this year's King sCup Race. HAMPSHIRE AEROPLANE CLUB WEEK ending Sunday, July HI.—Flying times : Total, 18 hours. Dual. 9 hours 20 niins. Solo, 6 hours' 55 mins.' Joy rides, 35 mins. Tests, 1 hour10 miiis. The following had dual :—Mrs. Aitkeu Dick, Lt. Mandeville. R.V., MasterWaite, Messrs. Evans, Andreae, Williamson. Dobson, Brewster, Wells, MacCracken, Stamford, Fagan, Boilean, Snowden, Baynes, Whittle, South-clifie, Cripps and Everett. The solosists were : -Don T. de la Cierva, Messrs. Shepherd, Dobson, Fagan,Parker, Symnimis and A. X. Other. rhefollowing had joy rides :—Major Ross White, The Hon. H. R. Grosvenor,Dr. Keller Frost, Mr. Lovat, Mr. Alexander and Miss Myers. There was no flying on Wednesday and Saturday owing to gales.Mr. Dobson made an excellent first solo flight on Friday. In spite of the gale on Saturday, Ft.-Lt. Thomson with the Secretary. Major Ross White, flew'(>ver Calshot where the Southampton Yacht Club were holding their Annual Regatta, and saluted their friends of the Club.WEEK ending Sunday, August 7. Flying times : Total, 23 hours. Dual, \i hours 25 mins. Solo, 8 hours 10 mins. Joy rides, 1 hour 3a nuns, lests,Ml mins. The following had instruction :—Miss Home, Lt. Graham, R.N., Lt.-Com.Woodhouse, Commander Hunt Capt. Molvneux, Messrs. Evans, Brewster Wells. Stanford, Dunnings Mellor Snowdefi, Williamson, Boilean, Dobson,<~rook, F.verett, Courtney. ' The soloists were :—F O. Southey, Lt. Graham, R.X.. Don J. de la Cierva,The Hon. H. R. Grosvenor, Messrs. Sanders Clark, Mellor, Dobson, Fry, Symmons. Parker and Nicholson.The following had joy rides :—Mrs. Thomson, Mrs. Brewster, Mrs. Crook, Misses Clappen, Davis and Taylor, Messrs. Bailey, Shepherd, Lovat andBathurst. Mr. A. R. Mellor made an excellent first solo flight on 'tt ednesday, havingfirst beer, collected by air from Cowes. The Club was open on Monday, 1st (Bank Holiday), but no flying waspossible, owing to rain. The Club will be closed for eight days from Monday, August 8, to Monday, August 15, to give the staff a well-earned rest. Therewas no flying on Friday, 5th, as the chief instructor had to go to London for his half-yearly medical examination. On Thursday, the Club was visited by Dr. Murton on his " Moth." He" dropped in "for lunch at the Club on his way from Bournemouth to Dover. Capt. Olley. of Imperial Airways, descended on us in a Vickers' " Vulcan,"on Sunday. He had with him as passengers. Miss Enid Stamp Taylor, .Mr. Leslie"Henson and .Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hylton, all on their way to Deau-ville. LANCASHIRE AERO CLUB TorAl. for the week ending August 6, 45 hrs. 5 mins. Composed of tests,1 hr. 25 mins. ; joy rides, 5 hrs. 45 mins. ; dual. 15 hrs. 4(1 mins. ; solo, 22 hrs. 15 mins. Dual with Mr. Brown, Messrs. Jowett, Anderson, Fisher,Stonex Meades, Browning. Wilkinson, Forshaw, Watson, Musgrave, Allott, Williams Shires, Harber, Gattrell, Hartley, Kinsley, Wade, Agar, C, MissBerlein. Dual with Mr. Cantrill, Messrs. Fisher, Stonex, AUott, Harber, Meades, Heyes, Wade. Joy rides with Mr. Brown, Messrs.Treadgold, Redfern,Fisher, Miss Mills, Dyson, D. F., Hubbard, Bromost, Kershaw, Mills. W'ith Mr. Twemlow, Mr. Ridley. With Mr. Cantrill, Mrs. Ainsworth, Mr. Mills.With Mr. Goodfellow, Mr. Mills. With Mr. Scholes, Miss Jackson, Mr. Brook. With Mr. Costa, Mr. Brito. With Mr. Leeming. Mr. Pilling.Solo by Messrs. Anderson, Goodfellow, Caldecott, Twemlow, Ward, Mus- grave, Miss Berlien, Torrees, Dobson, Shires, Michelson, Costa, Rowley, Hardy,Meades, Agar, Crossthwaite, Davison, Williams, Chapman, Gattrell, Nelson, Lecming, Harber. ... _ For part of the week only one machine was serviceable. The week started 567
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