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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0987.PDF
OCTOBER 18, 1928 U View inside the cabin of the Junkers G.31. does not exceed 7,000 kg. (15,400 lbs.) the machine will flyon one engine. The Focke Wulf " Moewe " In common with not a few German aircraft firms, the Focke Wulf Flugzeugbau of Bremen have developed their large commercial aircraft from smaller types previously in use during the period when Germany was prevented" by the Inter-Allied Commission from producing and operating machines of more than a certain limited size and power. Thus the largest machine on this stand, the " Moewe " type A.17a, is a direct development of previous small " feeder line " types of machines, the general outline of which the " Moewe " retains. The " tail-first " type which this firm produced last year is not represented at the Show, but it is of interest to learn that the type will be proceeded with experi- mentally, as it is held that the accident which resulted in the death of Dr. Wulf last year was of a nature which might have befallen any type of machine, and not necessarily a result of the tail-first arrangement. We were informed on the Focke Wulf stand that the new " Ente " may be expected in about six months' time. However, this is by the way. The subject that concerns us at present is the " Moewe." " Wirtschaftlichkeit "—or, in other words, economy in operation—was the first con- sideration of the designer of the machine. In his view—a view, by the way, which is not universally shared in England —economy is to be obtained by a high ratio of paying load to engine power. In the " Moewe " this ratio is represented by a pay load in the form of eight passengers for a single engine of 480 h.p. (geared " Jupiter"). The machine is of "mixed" construction in that the fuselage is a welded-steel tube structure, while the cantilever mono- plane wing is an all-wood structure in which the three-ply wing covering is employed to stabilise the internal wing skeleton, and thus takes part of the load imposed on the wing. The fuselage is fabric-covered except for the cabin portion, which has three-ply walls in order to deaden the engine noise, and the engine mounting, which is covered with aluminium sheet. It has always been a feature of the Focke-Wulf machines that the cabin floor is raised but slightly above the ground. This feature has to a large extent been retained in the 917 " Moewe," in which a small tubular step is all that is required for entering and leaving the cabin. The latter has six wicker seats arranged in two rows, one along each side of the cabin, and a small sofa seat for two against the rear wall. A door in the forward wall communicates with the pilot's cockpit, which is placed ahead of the leading edge of the wing and protected by a large wind-screen. Dual controls are provided as in most large German commercial machines, so that either two pilots or one pilot and a navigator who can act as occasional pilot may be carried. The undercarriage is the type now so popular in Germany, in which a Vee of steel tubes projects laterally from the sides of the fuselage and carry the wheel axle, while a third strut runs to the wing. This latter strut is sometimes arranged as a telescopic member, but in the " Moewe " it is solid, the springing being obtained by rubber cords passing over a cross-piece on the top of this strut and anchored inside the wing profile. A fairly wide wheel track is provided in this manner, although British designers might object to imposing landing shocks thus direct on to their wing structure. The arrangement does not, however, appear to give any trouble in actual use. The engine used in the " Moewe " A. 17a is a geared " Jupiter " mounted on a steel tube structure. The petrol (500 kg. = 1,100 lbs.) is carried in two tanks in the leading edge of the wing, and direct-gravity feed is employed. The main dimensions of the " Moewe " are : Length, o.a,, 13 m. (42-7 ft.) ; wing span, 20 m. (65-6 ft.) ; wing area, 62-5sq.m. (673 sq.ft.). Tare weight, 2,450 kg. (5,380 lbs.) ; permissible load, 1,550 kg. (3,410 lbs.); total loaded weight, 4,000 kg. (8,800 lbs.); maximum speed, 201 km. h. (125 m.p.h.) ; cruising speed, 175 km./h. (108 m.p.h.) ; landing speed, 90 km./h. (56 m.p.h.) ; climb to 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 6-6 mins. ; ceiling, 5,000 m. (16,400 ft.) ; range, 800 km. (500 miles). The Junkers G.31 "In our issue of last week we commented on the fact that the Junkers stand at the I.L.A. is separated from the rest of the stands of the German aircraft constructors by a high partition so as to hide it entirely fromKview when viewed from the main body of Hall I. The explanation for this is now found to be that Junkers is not a member of the Society of German Aircraft Constructors, and that thus the Junkers exhibit is to be regarded as one separate from the I.L.A., at which it was not originally Junkers' intention to exhibit at all. Whether the tall partition was dictated by a feeling THE PRETTIEST MACHINE IN THE SHOW : The D.H. " Gipsy-Moth " is generally admired for its good lines. Unfortunately, the floats, skis, etc., surrounding it rather detract from its appearance.
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