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Aviation History
1929
1929 - 1119.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 30, 1929 " FLIGHT" Photograph An unusual view. This photograph was " shot "through an opening in the engine plate, and shows the control stick, adjustable foot rests, control cablepulleys, etc. arrangement. This pin is rather in the form of a sort ofkey, as when the wing is erected and the pin pushed home and turned, it cannot accidentally come out of its socket,being held in by a coil spring and having a small projection or cam which fits into a corresponding recess in the block. The wing spars are of solid spruce, spindled out to anI-section. This form of spar is rather cheaper to make than a box-section spar, and as there is no difficulty in obtaininggood spruce in such short lengths, the spindled I-section spar was chosen. The ribs are light girders, of square-sectionspruce, attached to the spars by corner strips. The rib flange strips are joined to the rib tie strips by thin three-ply wood gussets. The covering is doped fabric. The wingsection used is a bi-convex one, R.A.F. 34, which has an almost stationary centre of pressure, and has been found towork excellently on full scale. The tail surfaces are also of wood construction, andperfectly normal, both in aerodynamic and structural design. The tail plane incidence can be adjusted while themachine is on the ground, the rear spar of the tail plane being supported from the fuselage by two threaded liolts,lock nuts on which locate the tail plane at the desired angle by being tightened up against a flat sheet steel fitting. The undercarriage is of the " split " type, the wheel oneach side being supported on a tent axle, which is in turn located in a fore and aft direction bv a radius tube, and ina vertical direction by the telescopic " leg," the upper end of which is bolted to the side of the fuselage. Endless rubbercord rings form the shock-absorbing medium, and the correct amount of springing is very simply determined by thenumber of rings employed. There is no damping device for checking bouncing. The wheel track obtained with thisform of undercarriage is very wide, and there should be little danger of the machine turning over when taxying in a strongcross wind. The main dimensions, etc., are shown on the general,arrangement drawings. The estimated tare weight of the " Robin " is 415 lbs., but actually, the machine promises tocome out quite a good deal lighter than that. The per- missible gross weight for the certificate of airworthiness is680 lbs., which will enable a fairly heavy pilot and a consider- able load of luggage to be carried, in addition to fuel for4 hrs. at cruising speed, or a range of about 340 miles. Assuming a maximum power of the " Scorpion " of 40b.h.p., the power loading is 17 lbs./h.p., while on normal power (35) the power loading is 19-4 lbs./h.p. The wingloading is 7 lbs./sq. ft., which gives a landing speed of approxi- mately 40 m.p.h.As the " Robin " is not yet finished, actual results of flying tests cannot be given, but the high placing of the wing,in conjunction with a wing section with stationary centre of pressure, should make for great stability. R.A.F. 34 showsno violent stall, and the machine should merely sink slowly when flying beyond the stall, and should show little tendencyto go into a spin. [•' FLIGHT " Sketches THE A.B.C. " ROBIN " : On the left, a sketch of one of the rear spar hinges, showing how aileron cables areguided. On the right, a front spar fitting, with locking pin. The Royal TournamentH.R.H. THE QUEEN was present at the opening ceremony of the Royal Tournament at Olympia on May 23, and thePrince of Wales took a part as a soldier in the initial item and was also a spectator. This Tournament began with theusual triumphant acclaim, which included an inspiring mussed bugle display by men from various regiments. RoyalHospital School boys, Greenwich, greatly impressed with their cutlass drill, and there was real novelty in the per-formance of the P. and R.T. School, Portsmouth, in which 80 men hauled themselves up 80 ropes and performed onhlgh. Old favourites, like the musical ride of the Lancers, Wtr>' as popular as ever. A Royal Air Force display of Physical training was carried out at the double, with greatcrclit to the R.A.F., from which one expects technical competence rather than massed ground action. Nevertheless,they prove themselves in this sphere the equal of the older s«vices. Much fun was made by the Tank Corps display, in which one tank, in the hands of an expert, acted like a wildhorse. A wonderful final spectacle this year is carried out by the Middlesex Regiment. It shows how they won theBattle of Albuhera in the Peninsular War. It is an historical representation, most realistically produced, and is followedby other phases in the history of this famous regiment of " Die-Hards." Judging by the crowds now visiting Olympia,this year's Tournament is even more popular than ever. Schneider Trophy Course THE Admiralty is preparing the course for the SchneiderTrophy race, which takes place on September 7, and the work of laying it out and arranging moorings for ships withspectators is being done by Capt. R. St. P. Parry, King's Harbour Master at Portsmouth. The official chart of thecourse, which is now completed, shows that the race will start and finish at Ryde Pier and the course will be 1,000 yardswide. 445 D2
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