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Aviation History
1929
1929 - 1104.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 30, 1929 powered and cheaper aeroplanes. The simile of the motor-cycle should not, perhaps, be pushed too far, but it serves Very well, inasmuch as it calls attention to the probability that more than one class of low- powered machine is likely to be wanted. Not all motor cyclists use the two-wheeler because it is cheaper. Many use it because it is more " snappy," more convenient, more " at one " with the driver. And at the same time, it is inexpensive. So one may imagine that during the next few years we shall see various classes of low-power machines produced, some with cheapness mainly in view, some with high performance, and some combining these with comfort for the occupants. That it will not be necessary to use high powers to get even a very good performance is indicated by a new machine described and illustrated in this issue of FLIGHT. The A.B.C. " Robin " designed for A.B.C. motors by " Tony " Fletcher, has an estimated top speed of 105 m.p.h. True, it still remains to be seen whether this figure is realised, but it is unlikely that it is very far wrong. This top speed corresponds to a maximum engine power of 40 b.h.p., and as the total loaded weight of the machine will be 680 lbs., the Everling " High-speed figure" works out at approximately 20. Although good, this figure is by no means the maximum ever recorded for a machine. Altitude Record Claimed THE German airman Neuenhasen, flying a Junkers aeroplane at Dessau, established what is claimed to be a new height record of 12,500 m. (about 40,625 ft.).Seaplane Record Claimed ALL existing speed records, it is reported, for service seaplanes were shattered on May 25 by Lieut. W. T. Tomlin- son, of the United States Navy, who covered a 100-mile For the de Havilland " Tiger Moth," for example, the Everling " High-speed figure " is 26. There is thus no reason to doubt that the estimated top speed is •;. attainable. Thus we have a machine which will exceed 100 m.p.h., at any rate for short periods, and which will cruise comfortably at something like 85 m.p.h. using but 25 h.p. or so. At that power and speed the mileage is more than 40 miles per gallon. We have been privileged to see the performance curves of the " Robin " (estimated, of course), and the machine is calculated to require rather less than 10 h.p. to remain in the air. One result of this is that the initial rate of climb is very good, probably not a great deal short of 1,000 ft. in the first minute. It is not so very many years ago that such a rate of climb was associated with machines of the single-seater fighter type, although it is now, of course, very far exceeded by that class of machine. The point is that we are now about to have available a class of machine which, although it will probably be marketed at a little more than £400, does give a very good performance, both in speed and climb, and yet should be extremely economical to run. And to this must be added that, with the enclosed cabin and conduite interieure, the pilot should be as comfortable as in any motor car. O <•> course over the River Potomac at an average speed of 175-01 m.p.h.View from an Air Liner THE atmosphere over South-east England was so clear on Wednesday week that the pilot of an air liner on the London-Continental air route could see the whole of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex beneath him. It was possible to see the whole of the coast line from Clacton-on-Sea to Beachy Head. Mr. R. L. Robbins and Mr. J. Kelly with their Ryan monoplane (Wright "Whirlwind " engine) inwhich they set up an endurance record (under refuelling conditions) of 7 days 4 hrs. 40 mins, 15 sees., or 22 hours above the previous record. They are ex-cowboys ! - :.-••-•.-.••; •?-.- -.- — 438 - ...,
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