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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0677.PDF
SEPTEMBER I, 1927 THE FORD RELIABILITY TOUR : The Mercury Jr. biplane (Wright C-6 engine), piloted by H. G. Mummert, was placed third. Cincinnati ; Cincinnati-Louisville ; Louisville-Memphis ; Memphis-Fine Bluff-Dallas ; Dallas-Oklahama-Tulsa ; Tulsa- Wichita-Ohama ; Ohama-Moline-Hammond ; Hammond- Grand Kapids-Detroit. This year's formula on which the competitors were placed was a simple and interesting one, viz. : Load x maximum speed x 50 -=- " unstick " (take-oft) time — pull-up time X engine capacity (cub. ins.) ~~ ligure of merit. Previous to the start of the contest competing machines carried out the landing, take-off and speed tests in order to obtain their respective " merit factors." Then, in the actual tour, each competitor was credited with his maximum speed for each leg, provided he maintained an average of at least 85 per cent, of that speed. If, however, his average speed over any leg fell below the 85 per cent, he was penalised accordingly. Thus it will be seen that once the "Figure of Merit " for each machine was obtained its final score was established and remained in the hands of fate—for no further advantage could be obtained by maintaining a greater average speed than the given 85 per cent. This is where reliability came in—the "figure of merit" deciding effi- ciency. The tour started on J une 27, when 14 machines set out from Detroit at one minute intervals. The finish of the contest, on July 12, was a spectacular one, for not only was a gale, accompanied by rain, in progress—which threatened to upset many of the competitors' scores at the last minute—but 12 out of the 14 starters arrived safely home to good time. Only one competitor fell out of the contest, while the second, although he completed the course, was so delayed by engine trouble that he was not placed. A third machine, the F'ord Transport, piloted by Dean Mulford, obtained fourth position according to score, but was a non-contestant for prize awards. Practically all the competitors completed the various " legs " with almost monotonous regularity, and " incidents " during the tour were not very conspicuous. Eddie Stinson, the winner, who was well ahead throughout, nearly lost his position on the last day owing to a broken landing gear. By strenuous efforts—in which his rivals assisted—the damage was repaired so as to reach Detroit on time. Australian Aerial Services' Third Year THREE years' flying without accident have, up to July last, been completed by Australian Aerial Services, Ltd. During this time the organisation for handling mails, passengers and freight has grown considerably. Airports numbered six at the inception of the services in June, 1924 ; today there are 20 airports along the company's routes at which machines will land to set down or pick up passengers. The fleet has grown from 7 aircraft valued at £13,600 in 1924, to 10 aircraft valued at J,34,000 today. Since its inception the company's machines have flown 428,783 miles (equal to 17 times round the world at the equator), while the company has the proud distinction of being the only aerial service in Australia which has never had a fatal accident to either passengers or staff. The average speed maintained throughout the services (including all stops) is 66 m.p.h., and arrivals at terminals within 30 minutes of schedule time are approximately 90 per cent. At the present time an extensive aerial tour to investigate the possibilities of Central Australia is being undertaken by a party led by Mr. \Y. Oliver, a pastoralist, who has chartered the " Satin Bird," the largest aeroplane in Australia. Whilst in the service of the company, Chief Pilot F. S. Briggs and Pilot S. E. Sutclifie have each'flown over 120,000 miles without accident. Height Record THE French airmail, M. Callize, reached an altitude of 41,000 ft. on August 30 over the Buc aerodrome in France. He flew a Spad-Bleriot of 450 h.p. and lauded three hours later at Le Bourget. This constitutes a new world's record for altitude. Callizc nearly fainted at the apex of his climb. He has previously made two records in this class. So Soon ! THE Norwich Aero Club had their " Moth " crashed bya member on August 30 at Mousehold aerodrome. He was not injured, but the machine was badly damaged. A Long-distance Commercial Flight A SERIOUS outbreak of cholera in South Persia recently gave rise to an interesting example of true commercial aviation over a long distance. The Persian Government instructed its Minister in Berlin to purchase supplies of serum for inoculation of the population on a large scale, with a view to making a determined attack on the epidemic. The total weight of serum amounted to 10 cwts., and arrangements were made with the Junkers Company to transport this consignment by aeroplane. The load was carried by a Junkers W.33 L machine with Junkers L. 5engine piloted by Herr Harder, leaving Dessau 3.35 p.m. on August 11 and arriving at Teheran at 10.5 a.m. on August 16, the total distance being nearly 2,500 miles. The daily route taken was as follows : Dessau-Gleiwitz (310 miles) ; Gleiwitz- Lemberg (235 miles) ; Lemberg-Charkow (558 miles) ; Charkow-Mineraluy-Woky (496 miles) ; Mineraluy-Baku (465 miles) ; Baku-Teheran (372 miles). In addition to the pilot the machine carried a mechanic, and the flight was carried out as an ordinary cargo-carrying job without any special organisation on the route. Still in the Game ! THE largest Pulham airship shed is being dismantled and will be re-erected at Cardington to shelter one of the two new ships. Parachute Fatality OBSERVER OFFICER LOTHIAN was fatally injured in an unusual parachute accident at Farnborough on August 30. Flying in a D.H. machine with F./O. Hudson, he crawled along the fuselage to make the drop, and his apparatus became entangled in the tail unit, leaving him dangling in mid-air in a hopeless position. The pilot managed to keep the machine level and eventually landed as lightly as possible. Lothian was found to be unconscious, and died later in hospital. 623
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