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Aviation History
1929
1929 - 1012.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 16, 1929 THE VERVILLE " AIR COACH " : Two views show- ing the neat tail unit, with wheel, and (below) the interior of tbe cabin. It is completely equipped to satisfy the purpose for which the ship was built. It has a minimum length of 8 ft. and maximum length of 10 ft., the after 2 ft. being used for storage purposes. Height of the cabin is 4 ft., or the same as the average automobile sedan. Also there is an average width of 39 in. Displacement capacity in the cabin is figured at 126 cub. ft. Control wheels are mounted on upright columns, designed to make easily possible either dual or single control. The control columns are of the torque drive shaft type, with a spline connection at their base. For purposes of safety and convenience either column may be disengaged by unscrew- ing a knurled nut. Either column may be removed without disturbing the functioning of the controls proper. Between the two forward seats is the braking lever. To brake the left wheel the lever is pulled to the left, exactly like the operation of a joy stick. The reverse, of course, is true when the opposite brake is applied. To apply both brakes simultaneously, and for locking the wheels, it is only necessary to press on the ball and pull the lever straight back. Standard equipment on the dash includes a turn and bank indicator, climb indicator, compass, air speed indicator, oil pressure gauge, oil temperature gauge, altimeter, clock, instrument lights, and all light switches, and a Scintilla mag- neto switch. Except for the magneto switch, all the plane's instruments are Pioneer, and nicely centred on a 27 in. by 9 in. crackle varnished dural board. The throttle is of the push and pull type. As previously stated, the cabin has a large expanse of unobstructed vision, both on the front and sides. Pittsburgh shatter-proof " Duplate " glass is seated into the windows by a method similar to that used in automobile body construc- tion. The side windows slide back and forth, easily converting the plane into an open job. Two doors, also fashioned after those of the automobile, are located abreast of one another aft of the two rear seats, allowing easy ingress or egress. Two large skylights, fitted •with green pyralin, are set in tandem in the cabin roof, between which is the cabin's electric light. On the back wall of the cabin is a door, 18 in. by 12 in. in dimension, and equipped with Cinch fasteners for inspection of the tail's interior. The four seats in the cabin are bolted to the tubular structure of the fuselage. All upholstering is of Laidlow's broadcloth, red below the belt line, and grey above it, except for the seats, which are entirely red. A mat of woven auto- mobile type is laid over the floor. There are four pockets one on each door, and one on each side wall forward of the dnors. Ternstedt hardware is used throughout the cabin. The wing struts are of streamline duralumin tubing. The after struts, being attached to the lower longerons forward of the two side doors, and in line with the fuselage cross tubes to which the drag struts of the split type landing chassis are also attached. This arrangement contributes to the simpli- city of construction that is characteristic of the entire ship The wings employ double internal drag bracing; the internal drag struts being of steel tubing. The leading edge of the wing is covered with Alclad. The wings are attached to the fuselage with trunnion-type fittings ; the span is 40 ft., chord, 6J ft, giving a total area of 260 sq. ft., and the wings are rigged 2 degrees dihedral—the wing strut being attached with screw terminals at the top of the struts, allowing dihedral adjustments from zero to 3 degrees. Wing tips are slightly curved, and equipped with navigation lights. Ailerons are of the Friese type, and are operated by push- and-pull tubular controls—total aileron area is 26 sq. ft. The aileron hinges are attached to triangular tubular supports, which in turn are attached to the rear spar and the four drag stations, making a total of four aileron hinge supports. All the control hinges throughout the ship are fitted either with bronze or oil-less bearings. Structurally, the rudder is of the balanced type, and has an area of 9 sq. ft. It is fastened to the vertical fin with two hinges equipped with oil-less bearings, the fin being of full cantilever construction. Elevators and stabilisers on the air-coach are built in two parts, both front and rear spars of the stabiliser being fastened on two fuselage stub spars by means of two bolts. The elevators have a total area of 14'sq. ft., that of the stabiliser being 20 sq. ft., while that of the fin is 4 sq. ft. Right and left elevators, and right and left stabilisers are interchangeable. The tail surfaces, as well as the ailerons, are constructed of chrome molybdenum tubing. The horizontal stabiliser is provided with an incidence adjustment, having a range of from zero to 3°, plus or minus. This can be operated from the cabin. The fuselage, which is constructed of chrome molybdenum steel tube, with a truss of the diagonal tubular brace type, is of very pleasing lines, sloping gracefully from the level of the wings at the cabin to the tail. Forward of the cabin, two diagonal truss members slant forward and inward from the fuselage, at the leading edge of the wing, down to the fuselage at a point just behind the engine section. These struts form a support, as well as a wind shield or front window, for the cabin. The specifications of the Verville by the manufacturers, are :— Air coach," as supplied 110 h.p.Warner. Wring span . . . . . . 40 ft.Length overall . . . . 28 ,, Height overall . . . . 7 ,,Wing area 265 sq. ft. Aileron area .. .. .. 26 ,,Rudder area . . . . . . 9 ,, Elevator area .. .. 14 ,,Stabiliser area .. .. 20 „ Fin area . . . . . . 4 ,,Incidence . . . . . . None. Weight empty .. .. 1,525 lbs.Normal gross weight (loaded) 2,400 „ Disposable load . . . . 875 „Highspeed 110 m.p.h. Landing speed . . . . 45Fuel capacity . . . . 50 galls. Cruising range . . . . 600 miles The dimensions for Curtiss Challenger model same as for Wright. . , In the " Air Coach " illustrated, a 110-h.p. 7-fvlnKi cooled radial Warner engine is installed, but the 150 h.p.Wright. 41 ft. ft.7 „265 sq 27 „ 9 „ 14 „ 20 „ 4 „ None. 1,750 lbs. 2,900 „ 1,150 „ 125m.p-l>- 48 ,. 70 galls 6011 niilw • will remain air- 150-n.P-g _5-cyl., the 225-h.p. 7-cyl. Wright engines ca^also beWe understand that Curtiss "ChallengerWarner engine, a high speed of ih h th i h With the 125 the 170-h.p. 6-cyl. aircan be fitted as well. naiuci engine mgii speed 110 m.p.h. is a^?1-"jit' ] wit the other engines, the speeds are 150-h.p. ^..Q, m.p.h. ; 225-h.p. Wright, 140 m.p.h. ; and 170-h.p lenger," 132 m.p.h. , . r-,vided ^or A detachable mounting of the ring type is P!< 398
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