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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0195.PDF
MARCH 15, 1928 density wind tunnel which is to be constructed at the NationalPhysical Laboratory for the purposes of aeronautical research In this form of wind tunnel, which has been found of greatvalue in the United States, the atmospheric density which is one of the variables affecting the characteristics of'aerofoilsand aerostructures, can be increased so as to obtain from models data which are more directly comparable with fullscale conditions. Provision for this item is taken in Vote 4. Research upon autogyros has continued, and an experi-mental machine has made a cross-country flight of 35 miles the longest cross-country flight yet to the credit of an aircraftoi the rotating wing type. New light has been thrown on the forces involved in the autogyro system by two minoraccidents which have occurred to the "'windmill/1 and these are being investigated theoretically and by experiments inthe wind tunnel. Airships One of the fundamental ideas of the programme under which R.100 and R.101 are being constructed has been to base design on sound aerodynamic principles and to simplify construction while increasing the size. The considerable difficulties which have been met with in pursuance of these objects have prolonged the period of construction originally anticipated, but these are being satisfactorily surmounted and the completion of both airships and their flying trials in this country are provided for in these Estimates. The hull structure of R.100, which is being manufactured by the Airship Guarantee Company at Howden.is now com- plete ; the gasbags have been manufactured, as has the greater part of the outer cover ; and the equipment of the passenger quarters is now in hand. There remains the fitting of the outer cover, the completion of the engine and control cars, the fitting of the fins and control surfaces, together with the installation of the controls, fuel and ballast system, gas valves, mooring gear and similar items. The fitting of the outer cover and preliminary trials of the engines in the first engine car will begin shortly. The power plant will consist of six Rolls-Royce " Condor " engines. The main girder work for R.101 (which is being built at the Royal Airship Works at Cardington) is being manufac- tured _ by Messrs. Boulton and Paul, Ltd., of Norwich. Certain difficulties arising out of the novelty of the design have caused delay, but manufacture is now approximately 60 per cent, complete, the assembly of main components is in hand, and good progress has been made with the minor components such as control and power cars, which are being manufactured at Cardington. A feature of the design is that much of the installation of fuel and ballast tanks, gang- ways and similar equipment can be carried out on the ground before the transverse frames are erected in position. Full advantage is being taken of this in order to minimise the amount of work to be done aloft in the shed. A new type of heavy-oil compression ignition engine has been developed by Messrs. Beardmore to serve as power plant for this air- ship. At the Imperial Conference of 1926, H.M. Governments in Canada and South Africa each undertook to erect a mooring tower base to enable demonstration flights to be carried out by the twro new airships to their respective territories. Representatives of the airship, meteorological, and works staff of the Air Ministry were accordingly sent to assist the Governments of Canada and South Africa with regard to the selection of suitable sites. A site for the purpose has been acquired by the Canadian Government near Montreal, and a decision will shortly be made by the South African Govern- ment with regard to a site in South Africa. At the request of H.M. Governments in Australia and New Zealand, the mission which visited South Africa proceeded to these ^Dominions and carried out similar investigations, with a view to future development. Opportunity was also taken of the journey to South Africa and Australia to inspect possible sites for intermediate bases in West and East Africa, Ceylon and other Crown Colonies. In Australia the Commonwealth Government has decided to acquire the land necessary for setting up the first airship base in that country in anticipation of future developments, and also to extend its meteorological services to meet the possible requirements of such operations in the future. The Government of New Zealand is making arrangements for a similar extension of its meteorological services. Good progress has been maintained with the various works services at home and overseas. The erection of a second shed at the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, which was recommended by the Imperial Conference, 1926, was begun in July last, and should be completed in readiness for the flying trials of the two new airships. The mooring-tower base at Ismailia, Egypt, is complete, and operational trials of the mooring-tower gear have recently been carried outsatisfactorily, a kite balloon being flown at the mast-head for the purpose. Work on the Indian base at Karachi is wellforward, and the construction of the airship shed there should be completed by the early summer of 1928. The net provision for airships (Subheads N and O, lessappropriations-in-aid in Subhead P. 8-11) is £432.000; the corresponding provision made in 1927 was £431,000. WorksVote 4 (Works, Buildings and Lands) shows a gross decrease of £457,000. The effect on the building and land purchaseprogrammes of the decision to retard the formation of the Home Defence Force has not hitherto been reflected in AirVotes to its maximum extent. This is shown for the first time in the works vote for 1928, owing to the completionof building schemes which were in hand before the decision, and the. fact that, as a result of it, fewer new works have beenstarted and are being started in the immediate future. This year's Vote allows for the commencement of work at two newstations ; also for commencement of work at Hendon on accommodation for one regular and one non-regular squadron.The station at Cattewater, which has been closed down for some years, will be reopened to accommodate a flight offlying-boats, and provision is made to cover small alterations and improvements required. It is proposed to commence during the year the permanentbuildings of the Cadet College at Cranwell, and money is accordingly taken for a first modest instalment of this long-overdue work. The accommodation hitherto provided, consisting of war-time buildings of a temporary character,has been unsuitable in lay-out, design and construction, and is consequently very uneconomical in use. Replacement bymore worthy buildings, which has been postponed for a decade, has now become, if indeed it has not been for sometime, one of the most urgent necessities for the future well- being of the Royal Air Force. The total net provision for services in Iraq, Palestine andTransjordan shows a reduction of £46,000, as compared with 1927. A factor which has substantially contributed to thisresult is the large reduction in cost of maintenance which it has been possible to effect in Iraq. In view of the reduced total of the Vote, the overall deduc-tion to discount unforeseen delays has been fixed at /ISO.000, as compared with £200,000 in 1927. Civil AviationThough there is a net reduction on Vote 8 as a whole, there is an increased provision for subsidies. This has been foundby allocating to this subhead a substantial part of the savings which it has been possible to effect on works services. Theconstruction of new buildings, etc., at our main civil aero- drome at Croydon, which has been proceeding for some timepast, is nearing completion. The provision of an up-to-date air terminus, and an aerodrome so arranged and extended asto enable aircraft to take off and land with an ample margin of security in all conditions of wind and weather, is a matterof congratulation to all concerned in civil aviation, and marks a notable stage of progress in the development of Britishair transport. The Vote is in consequence relieved of a great part of the capital charges falling on it in the current year.A sum of £30,000 is, however, taken to complete the work in 1928 ; and a further sum of £35,000 has also been includedfor the purchase of part of the Waddon Aircraft Factory which adjoins the aerodrome, as an economical means of supple-menting the hangar accommodation there. The increase on the subsidies subhead is designed to providefor a further development during the coming year of the existing air transport services with the ultimate object ofestablishing an Imperial air-mail route to India and the East. This project will involve the revision and extension of existingagreements, but the matter has not yet been carried far enough to enable any formal document or statement of termsto be laid before Parliament. The provision made is based on the assumption that an extended service will be inauguratedtowards the latter part of the financial year. The existing subsidised European services of ImperialAirways, Ltd., have been carried on with increasing success during the past year. The use of more powerful aircraft,with a consequent reduction of operating costs per ton-mile, has afforded a development on the lines which it has been thepolicy of the Air Ministry to encourage. The service in the Middle East, subsidised under the Agreement of October 28,1926 (Cmd. 2758), has been curtailed by the refusal of the Persian Government to allow Imperial Airways, Ltd., tooperate along the northern shores of the Persian Gulf, and the consequent omission, pending the development of an alterna-tive route, of the section Basrah-Karachi. A weekly service 175
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