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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0625.PDF
AUGUST 18, 1927 [" FLIGHT " Photograph The "Crusader's" Prime - Mover: A close-up of the Bristol " Mer- cury " engine, showing one of the " helmets " in place, on the top cylinder. 5S §5 Si a water-cooled engine, but the compensating of the air-cooled engine—low weight per horse- area than a advantages o th power being, perhaps, the most important—made this an experiment of considerable importance. It is certainly an interesting problem, and in the case of the "Crusader" called for much research in order to devise a means of reducing head resistance and at the same time maintaining sufficient cooling for the cylinder heads. This has been successfully accomplished by means of a series of metal " helmets " which fit over each cylinder head and merge into the fuselage so as to follow the streamline as much as possible. With these helmets in situ, the machine looks like a Crusader indeed. The trials that have already been carried out with the " Crusader " have demonstrated that the " experiment " has met with no small measure of success, in which the Bristol company can claim, in the production of the " Mercury," a considerable share. It may be of interest to note that the weight of the whole machine, complete with engine, is less 5S SS than what was considered in the early days of aircraft develop- ment to be a reasonable figure for an engine alone ! The fuselage of the " Crusader," which is well streamlined (of cigar shape) is of monocoque form, mainly constructed of double-plank mahogany, the forward and engine portion being of steel tube. Special attention has been directed towards the position of the pilot, who is located near the e.g., a little way back from the wings, where he obtains a good all-round view. It will be noted that the stern of the fuselage terminates in a sharp point a short distance behind the tail surfaces. A continuous fairing extends along the top of the fuselage from the top engine-cylinder to cockpit and from cockpit to fin, as in the S-5. The wings are of medium thickness, with streamline wire bracing, and are neatly faired into the lower portion of the fuselage. While the vertical fin is large, the elevators are comparatively small. The floats, of metal, have been designed specially for the machine by Short Bros., under the direction of Mr. Gouge, fiOME OF THF(designer ofThe^ *? (constructor ["FLICHT" Photograph Reading from left to right—Maj. Abell (Bristol Co.) ; Mr. W. G. Carter Lieut-Col W.A.Bristow; Sq.-Ldr. Slatter (chief pilot of the team) ; Mr. Oswald ne) • next to Mr. Short but obscured is Mr. Gouge, his chief designer ; and two of'thTteam, Flying Officers H. M. Schofield and T. H. Moon. 577 D 2
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