FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1930
UNTITLED0 - 1384.PDF
FLIGHT, NOVEMBER 21, 1930 VICKERS VICKERS (AVIATION), LIMITED, WORKS: BYFLEET ROAD, LONDON OFFICE: VICKERS HOUSE, WEYBRIDGE, SURREY BROADWAY, WESTMINSTER, S.W.I \ /ICKERS, LTD., some time ago, secured a controlling interest in the * Super marine Aviation Works, Ltd., but the two designing staffs are almost entirely independent, although naturally the very closest liaison is maintained, and the design staff of one firm assists the other with information and advice. As the Supermarine engineers have for many years specialised in marine aircraft, it is natural that, when an aircraft of this type is to be produced, the work falls to the Southampton works. When a landplane is planned, it is the Weybridge design office which tackles it. This division of the work is not, it should be pointed out, an entirely unalterable procedure, but in a general way it represents the policy followed. Something depends upon the amount of work in hand at the two works at a given time. For example, when the first " Viastras " were being built it so happened that the Weybridge works were very busy on the production of military aircraft. Consequently the " Viastras " were built at Southampton. But in a general way it is true to say that marine aircraft work is done by Supermarines and landplane work by Vickers. The chief designer of Vickers is Mr. Rex Pierson, and at Supermarines Mr. R. J. Mitchell is chief designer and engineer. Out of the very large number of types produced by Vickers, Ltd., in recent years we have space to deal with but a very few here. Those to which refer- ence will be made are the " Viastra " and " Vellore " commercial machines, and the " Vespa " and " Vildebeest " military types. The " Viastra " is an all-metal monoplane, the metal construction including the covering of wing and fuselage. It is a most remarkable machine in that it has been so designed that it can be used as a single-engined, twin-engined or three-engined machine. Rather remarkably, the difference in useful load carried by the machine in the three forms is relatively small. This is due to the fact that, to take the two extremes, for example, when three engines are fitted the wing loading is somewhat increased, while the power loading is reduced. When a single engine is used, the wing loading is reduced, while the power loading is increased. This feature of choice of power plants and their number is a great advantage, and should make the machine suitable for almost any conceivable operating conditions. For example, on a route where landing grounds are numerous and frequent, and where no great altitudes have to be attained, it would be feasible to use the machine as a single-engined type, with very good operational economy. Conversely, on routes where forced landings must be avoided at all costs, "the operating com- pany would choose the three-engined model. Three " Viastras " have been built recently to the order of West Australian Airways, Ltd., of which two are twin-engined machines and the third a single-engined. A three-engined " Viastra " was also completed and flown recently. This machine was fitted with three Armstrong-Siddeley " Lynx " engines. The " Viastra " is a high-wing strut-braced monoplane of all-metal, mainly •duralumin, c0fi|tnictkm. Apart from its multiple engine arrangement, the machine is unusual in that the covering of wing and fuselage is part of the stress-bearing structure. In the fuselage construction use is largely made of angle sections of duralumin, which form the longerons, stringers and struts. These members have the strength necessary to support the loads jmposed upon them, but lack the necessary stiffness, which is supplied by the metal covering. This is in the form of duralumin sheet, corrugated in a fore-and-aft direction, the corrugations thus crossing the vertical and diagonal struts at large angles. The cabin walls are similarly planked, and in order to prevent drumming small squares of fabric filled with sand are riveted to the duralumin sheet 1312 Vickers Viastra passenger carrier. (Two BristolJuplters.) Vickers Viastra, avion a voyageurs (deux moteursBristol Jupiter). Vickers Viastra, avion para el transports depasajeros (2 motores Bristol Jupiter . \7ICKERS (AVIATION), LTD., possede * actuellement une participation prepon- derante dans les etablissements Supermarine Aviation, et generalement le plan d'exploi- tation consiste a faire construire tous les avions marins par la societe Supermarine aux usines de Southampton, tandis que tous les avions terrestres sont etudies et corsstruits aux ateliers Vickers situes a Weybridge Des nombreux types d'avions produits par Vickers nous ne pouvons mentionner ici que quelques-uns. Ce sont les avions com- merciaux " Viastra " et " Vellore," et les appareils militaires " Vespa " et " Vilde- beest." Le Vickers " Viastra" est le premier avion du monde qui ait et6 etudie non seule- ment pour pouvoir etre equipe de moteurs de marques diverses, mais aussi pour pouvoir utiliser diversement ces moteurs comme appareil a un seul, a deux ou a trois moteurs. La performance varie considerablement sui- vant la puissance et le nombre des moteurs, mais il est surprenant de voir combien pen est affectee la charge utile. West Australian Airways a fait construire trois appareils " Viastra " : un monomoteur et deux bimoteurs. Dans toutes ses formes le " Viastra " est un monoplan tout metal, dont le fuselage et les ailes sont revetus de duralumin fixe de maniere a participer aux efforts de la membrure. II en resulte une structure tres rigide, et le travail dentretien des appareils en service se reduit a peu ae chose. Cet appareil peut recevoir VI pas- sagers h. son bord. , Le " Vellore " est un developpement de l'appareil de meme nom qui se constrmsait y a quelques annees ; c'est un avion porte- fret a grande vitesse. Le premier appareu de ce nom avait un seul moteur; mais, pu repondre aux exigences modernes,lel1""^ tyVe en a deux (moteurs " Jupiter tiplies). Le " Vellore" est un biplardeJupiter;construction entierement metallique, mais a contraire du " Viastra " ses ailes sont:K CO vertes de toile. Le fuselage est tres spacig et 1'appareil est capable de transi«r er marchandises non seulement louiaes aussi encombrantes. entiere- Le " Vildebeest " est un bipl.m en ^ ment metaUique destine aux fol^t)O"typetorpilleur et de bombardier. Le, pwJgP-. est muni d'un moteur Bristol \\nn\<£ mais un second appareil de la sene-i du moteur Armstrong-Siddeley
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
