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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 1169.PDF
DECEMBER 20, 1928 A 3,500,000,000 CANDLE POWER SEARCHLIGHT A SEARCHLIGHT of unusual dimensions has been designed and constructed by the London Electric Firm, South Croydon, Surrey. It is thought to be the largest in the world, and will be mounted at a Continental power fortress. In candle- power it is approximately 3,500,000,000, and it would be visible for hundreds of miles if the limitations of the horizon could be overcome and good weather prevailed. The diameter of this searchlight is nearly 7 ft., and its height is about 14 ft. when mounted on its trolley, which runs on narrow lines. There is so much space in the interior of the searchlight that a man can move about without restriction for cleaning and adjusting operations. Entrance is gained through a sliding trap-door which has, of course, to be made perfectly light- tight, like all other necessary apertures in the searchlight. The shutters behind the split mirror overlap when closed so that no light filters through. The searchlight has an elevation angle of 90 degs. and is electrically controlled from a distant control mounted on a low trestle. The operator can even be miles away and yet control the signalling, with all its various directions and elevations. Alternatively, complete hand control is provided for, including close hand control and Pan handle control. Despite the size and weight of the searchlight, it answers to hand control smoothly and easily. Quick or slow motions of the beam are given in the first instance to enable rapid search for the object, then follow slow movements when once it has been located. This distant control will mean more harmonious work for anti-aircraft crews. In addition to making these very large searchlights, the London Electric Firm also makes the smallest and all intervening sizes and types, both electric and acetylene. They include High Intensity, Army, Navy, Mercantile, Air Force, Suez Canal, Fire Brigade, Cinema Studio, Protec- tive, Display (sale or hire), Pilot House, Aerodrome Flood- light, Fog Penetrating, and Skywriting. The Suez Canal Searchlight embodies the Sir Charles Parsons patent split mirror, giving dual beam for navigating the Suez Canal. Those for cinema use are mounted on high pedestals and are movable from point to point. Combined Beacon Flood- lights mounted on Caterpillar tractors are produced for aerodrome purposes. An innovation in lamp suspension has also been designed and constructed. It is for use on tubular steel masts, and has been supplied to a Colonial Government wireless station. In this design it was fundamentally essential to attach a lamp to a wireless mast in such a way as to leave it above the top of the masts as a warning signal to aircraft flying near the masts and yet enabling it to be lowered to the ground for cleaning and maintenance without the lamp bsing unduly deflected in the process. In position the lamp is over 140 ft. above ground level. The new 3,500,000,000 candle-power searchlight de- signed and produced by the London Electric Firm, South Croydon, which is the largest in the world. It is to be used on a Continental power fortress, and can be electrically controlled at a long distance or hand con- trolled. Sqdn.-Ldr. Hinkler's Lecture ON December 6 Sqdn.-Ldr. "Bert" Hinkler, A.F.C., D.S.M., lectured at the Royal Aeronautical Society on the technical aspects of his flight to Australia in the Avro " Avian" (Cirrus). We have dealt fully with his previous accounts of his flight in recent issues of Flight, so we here summarise a few new points that he brought out. On the sea stretch from Malta to Bengazi he found that the Royal Navy took an interest in all airmen making that passage and insisted on them reporting their departure, so that if they failed to arrive a naval search could follow. From Singapore he thought that the route to Australia was really intended for seaplanes or flying-boats. At Bima the only oil he could obtain was that laid by for the use of the Smith brothers for their Australian flight. In spite of its age, however, he had no trouble from its use. The Royal Air Force Memorial Fund THE usual meeting of the Grants Sub-Committee of the fund was held at Iddesleigh House on December 13. Lieut.- Comdr. H. E. Perrin was in the chair, and the others members of the Committee present were :—Mrs. L. M. K. Pratt- Barlow, O.B.E. Mr. W. S. Field, Sqdn.-Leader Douglas Iron, O.B.E. The committee considered in all 14 cases, and made grants to the amount oi £256 4s. Qd. Imperial Airways Christmas Services IMPERIAL AIRWAYS, LTD., announce the following arrange- ments for their air services at Christmas—London-Paris- Basle, and London-Brussels-Cologne routes ; -Christmas Eve, December 24, all services as usual ; Christmas Day, December 25, all services cancelled. Boxing Day, December 26, London-Paris-London, 2nd-class service cancelled ; Basle- Paris-London service cancelled ; Silver Wing and London- Brussels-Cologne return service as usual. December 27, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, all services as usual. Air Mail: There will be no despatches from England to the Con- tinent of either letter or parcel Air Mail on December 25 and 26. Brochure of Great Flying-Boat Cruise A BROCHURE in superior style of the Royal Air Force Far-East Flight has been issued by the Supermarine Aviation Works, Ltd., and D. Napier and Son, Ltd. In a large neat cover, R.A.F. blue in colour, is a set of coloured photogravures of the officers, the airmen, one of the Supermarine-Napier " Southampton's " flying between Akyab and Rangoon ; the four machines at Singapore Air Base amid tropical beauty ; and extracts from the diary issued by the Air Ministry. Finally, there is a coloured map of the long route followed to Singapore, Australia and back to Singapore. The brochure is a beautiful memento of a great cruise and the pictures will look well framed. Sir Charles Wakefield Survey Flight A WORTHY memento of the Sir Charles Wakefield Survey Flight round Africa in 1927-28, carried out by Sir Alan Cobham in the Short " Singapore" flying-boat, has been artistically prepared. The route flown is traced on a large map of the African Continent round which are photographs of Sir Charles Wakefield, Sir Alan Cobham, Lady Cobham and the crew, and of the " Singapore " flying-boat in different waters. Mr. Oswald Short pens a message on the map and the art cover enclosing it, thanking those who helped them in their pioneer- ing endeavour in the cause of aviation. 1075
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