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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 1024.PDF
FLIGHT, SEPTEMBER 18, 1931 THE INDUSTRY The Lodge type X.170 plug used both for the Schneider Contest and the Speed Record. Aids to Performance THE accessories and materials in such an aircraft as the Vickers-Supermarine S.6B. play a very important part, and naturally they must be of the highest quality and the best which can be obtained for the job. One of the hardest tried is the airscrew, and, as in the last con- test, this was again of the Fairey forged duralumin type. These airscrews follow perfectly normal processes of design, although, as they are required for extreme conditions, they themselves may appear to be somewhat abnormal. Those used this year had certain refinements of shape produced for blending the blades into the nose of the spinner. The regula- tions this year, which increased the take-off weight, made the air- screw designer's job still more difficult, as he had to guarantee a certain take-off. Considerably more starting thrust was there- fore required, and this was obtained without sacrifice of top speed efficiency, by operating on the plan form of the blades. The makers state that, as far as they are con- cerned, there is still no limit in sight to maximum speed, and, whatever power the engine makers produce, they are •confident of converting it efficiently into thrust. Lodge Plugs are used in the Rolls-Royce engines, both for the Schneider Contest and for the Speed Record. This is in keeping with the experience the engine makers had with these plugs in both similar events of 1929. No small part in the efficiency of the aircraft was played by the super-finish on the surface of the fuselage wings and floats. This year a new form of cellulose lac- quer, called " Procelloid," was supplied by John Hall & Sons, of Bristol. This was sprayed on and then polished by hand, the resulting gloss being the same as that obtained on motor-car body work, and that in spite of the excep- tional difficulties which were encountered, such as the corrosive effect of the exhaust fumes. The English Steel Corporation of Sheffield supplied a drop forging, from which one of the most vital parts of the engine, namely, the crankshaft, was machined. Furthermore, their " Immaculate " Stainless Steels were used in making a very large number of the aircraft parts. The use of such steel obviates troubles due to corrosion, a matter which is very important for seaplane work. Hoffmann ball and roller bearings also contributed to- wards the easy working of such parts of the machines as were fitted with anti-frictional bearings. These bearings are, of course, of all-British manufacture, and they have been used in a very large number of successful aerial record flights. A material upon which a very great deal of experimental work has to be done before it is suitable for such a pur- pose is the fuel used in the engine. This was a composite fuel supplied by Pratts, having in it Ethyl and alcohol. To supply the necessary current to operate the sparking plugs, B.T.H. magnetos were fitted, and naturally did not miss throughout either flight. A Change of Address WILL readers please note that Bosch, Ltd.—of magneto fame—have changed their London address to:—Larden Road, Acton, W.3. Telephone: Shepherds Bush 2080. Telegrams: Elecbright, Act., London. De Havill.md in South Africa •' AVIATION IN AFRICA " for July, 1931, gives a table showing all the aircraft registered in the Union and South- West Africa up to June 11. An analysis of this shows that airciait which emanate from the De Havilland factory at Stag Lane are by far the most used and form a large percentage of all the aircraft out there. Actually, 50 are listed, of which 25 are " Moths " and eight " Puss Moths," while the remaining 17 represent no less than eight different types. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS AEROPLANES, airships, balloons and parts thereof (not shown separately before 1910). For 1910 and 1911 figures see FLIGHT for January 25, 1912. For 1912 and 1913, see FLIGHT for January 17, 1914. For 1914, see FLIGHT for January 15, 1915, and so on yearly, the figures for 1930 being given in FLIGHT, January 16, 1931. Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June JulyAug. Imports. 1930. £...2,987 ...2,460 ... 744 ...2,959 11,706 15,029 14,216 5,382 1931. £7,965 3,303 5,615 2,216 1,964 6,780 1,790 3,556 Exports. 1930. £147,935 226,049 156,098 213,390 158,460 252,443 170,594 146,564 1931. £142,596 110,587 83,088 213,401 275,382 78,298 177,006 153,834 Re-exports. 1930. £— 1,000 802 79 2,550 1,060 938 6,912 1931. £1,074 1,293 3,441 530 198 361 131 2,316 55,483 33,189 1,471,533 1,234,192 13,341 9,344 PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED Gazetteer of British Meteorological Stations Used in tht Preparation of Synoptic Report. M.O. 319. H.M. Stationery Office, Kingsway, London, W.C.2. Price 8s. net. The Light Aeroplane Manual. By F. D. Bradbrooke. London: Chapman & Hall, Ltd. Price 10s. 6d. net. Aircraft Depdt Magazine. Vol. 1, No. 3. Aircraft Dep6t, Karachi, India. The Pageant of Transport Through the Ages. By W. H. Boulton. London: Sampson Low, Marston Co., Ltd. Price 12s. 6d. net. Technical Report of the Aeronautical Research Com- mittee, 1929-30. Vol. I, Aerodynamics. Vol. II. Stability and Control, Spinning, Materials, Engines, etc. London: H.M. Stationery Office, W.C.2. Price £1 17s. 6d. each, net. Air Transport Operation. By Wesley L. Smith. London: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., Ltd. Price 20s. net. Catalogue Saro Amphibian Aircraft. Saunders-Roe, Ltd., Cowes, Isle of Wight. AERONAUTICAL PATENT SPECIFICATIONS (Abbreviations : Cyl. = cylinder; i.e. => internal combustion; m. =* motors.The numbers in brackets are those under which the Specification will be printed and abridged, etc.) APPLIED FOR IN 1930 Published September 17, 1931 14,991. I. DE L.\ CIERVA. Aircraft with rotative wings. (355,226.)15,975. W. E. GRAY. Undercarriages for aeroplanes. (355,348.) 16,790. M. L. BRAMSON. Internal-combustion engines using wobbler or swash-plate driving gear. (355,884.)21,119. WOLSELEY MOTORS (1927), LTD., and E. S. LUYKS. Master con- necting-rods of radial engines. (355,450.)30,274. SPERRY GYROSCOPE CO., INC. Automatic steering-devices for dirigible craft. (355,566.)32,819. G. FISCHER and E. MULLER. Electric switch mechanism for use in aircraft, &c. (355,586.)39,027. LUFTSCHIFFBAU ZEPPELIN GES. Framework girders for light constructions such as are used in aircraft. (355,627.) FLIGHT, The Aircraft Engineer and Airships. 36, GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C.2. Telephone (2 lines): Holborn, 3211. Holborn, 1884. Telegraphic address: Truditur, Westcent, London. SUBSCRIPTION RATES POST FREE UNITED KINGDOM 5. d. 3 Months 8 3 6 16 6 12 „ 33 0 UNITED STATES 3 Months $2-20 6 „ $440 12 „ $8-75 OTHER COUNTRIES* s. d. 3 Months 8 96 „ 17 6 12 „ 35 0 Foreign subscriptions must be remitted in British currency. Cheques and Post Office Orders should be made payable to the Proprietors of " FLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C.2, and crossed " Westminster Bank." Should any difficulty be experienced in procuring " FLIGHT " from local newsvendors, intending readers ca* obtain each issue direct from the Publishing Office, by for- warding remittance as above. •_ 962
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