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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0942.PDF
AT BERLIN: The Williamson "Eagle" Aircraft Camera, produced by the Williamson Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which is exhibited on the De Havilland Aircraft Co.'s Stand. is a very simple instrument, working against a spring on theweathervane principle. Fitted at the base of the front star- board strut, it is fully visible from both cockpits, clear ofthe propeller slipstream. THE WILLIAMSON MFG. CO., LTD., WILLESDENGREEN, LONDON, N.W.10. THIS firm, who are pioneers in connection with photographiccameras for aircraft, are exhibiting on the de Havilland stand one of their well-known " Eagle " Automatic ElectricAircraft Cameras. Aerial photography has already become a most important branch of aviation, and there is not theslightest doubt that it has yet to play an even greater part in the near future. So far, surveying and mapping have beenthe main uses to which aerial photography have been put, but we venture to suggest that it has great, and we thinkas yet hardly appreciated, .possibilities for commercial work. Advertising, Estate and Housing business, and also topo-graphical work. 'Aerial photography is, however, a specialised job, in opera-tion_^as well as regards the apparatus. The Williamson OCTOBER 11, 1928 Company have had many years' experience in producingcameras for aerial work, and the camera exhibited is one of their latest, and most successful, models. It is for roll films,and as its name implies, it is automatically and electrically controlled. A. V. ROE AND CO., LTD. THERE are two Avro " Avians " at the Exhibition, one fittedwith a " Cirrus Mk. II " engine, and the other with an Armstrong-Siddeley " Genet," Mk. II engine. Both machinesare standard. It is interesting to note that this type of light aeroplane is being despatched in batches of fifties every sixmonths to A. V. Roe and Co.'s agents in America. This production type " Avian " has been strengthened a gooddeal so as to enable it to withstand the varied handling which it may receive from beginners in flying, and whenused for school work. The lines have been improved con- siderably and the machine has a remarkably " clean " appear-ance. The fuselage is of the flat-sided three-ply covered type, andthe form of construction adopted is simplicity itself, having the advantage over the wire-braced girder type of construc-tion that it does not require any trueing-up after prolonged service. In front a fire-proof bulkhead separates the cock-pits from the engine, which is supported on a very simple mounting of steel tubes. The engine cowling is very neatand so arranged as to be entirely detachable, thus leaving the engine exceptionally accessible, the more so as there islittle or no bracing to. get in the way. What adds further to the facility with which inspection and adjustment of theengine can be carried out is the special type of undercarriage, invented by " Bert " Hinkler, which lowers the machine agood deal when the wings are folded, the top hamper of the engine thus being within easy reach. The two cockpits are arranged one behind the other in thecustomary manner, and dual controls are provided, so that the machine may be used for instructional purposes. The" joy stick " in the front cockpit is detachable so as not to be in the way when a non-piloting passenger is being carried.The new undercarriage is of the " divided " type, i.e., there is no axle running across from side to side. Instead, thetwo separate wheel axles are hinged on the centre line of the bottom of the fuselage and bent to a horizontal directionnear the wheels. The shock absorbing, or telescopic member is the front " leg " of the chassis Vee, which incorporatesrubber block compression rubbers The rear chassis leg is taken to a point on the lower rear wing spar. As regards the lower wing, two short wing roots are attachedpermanently to the fuselage. These roots are triangular in plan view, with the base of the triangle formed by the lead-ing edge and the apex at the rear spar hinge. To brace the root against the undercarriage loads a short diagonal strutruns to the top longeron. When the wings are folded they swing, of course, around the hinge. The point of attachmentof the rear chassis strut being situated some little distance out from the hinge, when the wings are folded the upper end ofthe rear strut moves back with the wing, and in so doing pulls the wheel back with it, and at the same time the wheelmoves upward slightly. The combined effect is to lower the BRITISH AIRCRAFT AT BERLIN : The Avro " Avian "light 'plane, fitted with the A.D.C. " Cirrus II " engine. 872
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