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Aviation History
1929
1929 - 0190.PDF
[" FLIGHT " Photograph THE CREW : On the right^Squadron- Leader Arthur G. Jones-Williams, M.C., CO. of No. 23 (Fighter) Squadron, and Flight-Lieut. Eric V. Major, of No. 2, Flying Training School, Digby, who will fly the Fairey monoplane in the forthcoming attempts to beat world's records. have experienced trouble with twisting of the wing during manoeuvre ; in this design this is obviated by special patented internal bracing. " The undercarriage is of normal type, the wheel track being very wide to give stability on the ground, and the wheels and tyres being of specially strengthened type. The wheels are mounted on ball bearings to assist the take-off. " The main dimensions are as follows :— Ft. " Span (main plane) .. .. .. 82 Length 48J •' " Chord (at centre line) . . .. . . 16 '•- Chord (mean) . . . . . . . . 11 v Height .. 12 JANUARY 31, 1929 " 2. Engine.—The engine is practically a normal service engine of well-tried type with carburettors tuned for economy and slightly higher compression-ratio pistons fitted. "3. Tests.—(a) Exhaustive wind-channel tests were carried out at the National Physical Laboratory before construction was commenced in order to check the aerodynamics of the aircraft. " (b) Half a wing was made and tested under full load conditions (including factors of safety) for all conditions of flight. " (c) When the fuselage was erected the rear end was loaded up to test the torsional rigidity of the structure under fin and tail loads. " (d) A wheel was loaded beyond any load that will occur during landing without any sign of failure. " (e) An identical engine was run on the bench for 70 hours under the conditions that will obtain during the flight. " All these tests have been most satisfactory. " 4. Fuel and Oil.—The machine carries more than a thousand gallons of fuel carried in the wings, feeding by gravity to a collector tank under the floor of the cabin, whence it is pumped to the engine. If the engine pump falls, a wind-driven pump can be immediately pushed through the side of the fuselage, and if that fails a hand pump can be used. " The main oil filter is duplicated, so that the flow can be switched over to No. 2 while No. 1 is being cleaned. " 5. Cabin.—The cabin is totally enclosed, provision being made for cleaning the windows. All windows are of triplex and open for ventilation, if necessary. The navigator can look downward through the wings and through a special sight in the floor for taking drift sights, as well as through the roof light. There are also windows in the sides. " The pilot's seat is fitted with pneumatic upholstery and a pneumatic bed is provided for use in the cabin. " The navigator has a comfortable seat and folding table to work at. " An instrument has been evolved to ensure that if the machine goes off its course inadvertently, either vertically or directionally, a hooter sounds in the pilot's ear. " Hot and cold drinks and an ample supply of food are carried in the cabin." and Conjecture So much for the official notes. The Fairey monoplane is so extraordinarily interesting a type that it is difficult to refrain from speculating on its chances to beat the duration and distance records. That the chances are good there can be little doubt, as the Fairey Aviation Company is not likely to have failed to make very sure of their ground, but in the absence of official information on the subject it is very tempting to attempt the somewhat difficult task of forming an estimate which shall be somewhere near the actual facts. The official figure for the amount of petrol carried is " more than 1,000 gallons." Accepting 1,000 gallons as being approximately the quantity of fuel, and knowing that the previous duration record without refuelling was 65 hours 25 mins., it is to be assumed that a duration of not less than 70 hrs. must have been aimed at. This would give an average The Fairey Long-distance Monoplane in flight. 78 ;..".*...:
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