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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0927.PDF
FLIGHT, AUGUST 28, 1931 THE FOLDING AND competitors had attempted tosecure some sort of protection against the weather in machineswith open cockpits, generally by fitting sliding or folding hoodswith cellon panes, this year practically no such arrangementswere met with, probably on account of these impairingvision. Offermann's fatal accident last year was attributed to sucha hood, through which he failed to make out the wires of a wire-less station in which the machine became entangled. But Croneisshad sliding hoods of aluminium, which could be partially drawnover the cockpits, leaving only a small hole open for the head.This was done less for protection than to reduce resistance causedby the cockpit openings. Then followed the tests re-quiring not only an efficient plane but in a higher measure evenan efficient pilot. The first of these was the measuring of thetake-off and landing distances. In succession each machine hadto line up at near end of a marked track with engine idling. On a given signal the pilot started, and assistantsalong the course planted a flag on the spot where the wheels took off. The distance was then measured, andthe mean speed of the wind in metres per second one metre above ground during the start was added to theresult. As the speed of the wind was continually changing, the weather being very boisterous, even suchgood pilots as Poss, misjudged the right moment for pull- ing the machine into the air, and so the results obtainedwere more based on good luck than efficiency. For a distance of 30 metres, including the mean wind velocity,5 points were to be awarded. A pilot requiring more than 90 metres received no points. Only three competitorswere able to secure 2 points, four 1 point each, and the rest none at all. The alighting test was conducted in asimilar manner. Only three pilots obtained 2 points and the same number 1 point. One repetition of the trial wasallowed, but only half the number of points was in this case to be awarded. No one, however, took advantage ofthis. It will be noticed that in this test the obstruction, consisting of two masts with a line of flags between, overwhich last year competitors had to start and land, was this year dispensed with.A novel feature in Germany was the test of the lowest speed in the air, for which up to 27 points could be ' DOOR-WHEELING " TEST : Kneip's machine going through the "gate." allocated. As the weather was still boisterous this was avery difficult trial. The machines were required to fly horizontally at a height not exceeding 50 metres aboveground over a marked course 50 metres broad and 1,000 metres long. The trip had to be repeated once in eachdirection, the velocity of the wind being deducted from the result. The maximum number of points was to beawarded to all machines, the average speed of which did not exceed 60 kilometres per hour (37.2 m.p.h.). Foreach kilometre per hour exceeding this speed, up to and including 73 kilometres per hour (45.5 m.p.h.) 1 point wasto be deducted, and 2 points for each kilometre beyond this, up to 81. Higher speeds were not rated. In thistrial also each machine had to carry an extra ballast of 50 kilograms (110 lb.) besides its crew of two, which hadto be in the machine during all trials. The rating was effected on the basis of double the length of the coursedivided by the sum of the time required for the successive out and back flights. Two flights in each direction wereallowed, of which the one with the most favourable result was rated. The machines were required to remain strictlywithin the boundaries of the course, and not to lose more than 30 metres in altitude, otherwise no points were tobe awarded. A repetition of the test was possible, in which case only half the number of points could besecured. Some of the entrants with machines having IN THE LANDING TEST: This year competitors did not have to land over an obstacle. 865
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