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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 1106.PDF
FLIGHT, OCTOBER 16, 1931 THE ATLAS II: Such points as the new rudder shape, the built-in tail lamp, the neat " slots," and generalcleanliness make it immediately apparent as to where this efficient two-seater gets its performance. (FLIGHT Photo.) and in a particularly convenient manner. The wheelbrakes are independently operated by toe pedals pivoting around the ends of the rudder bar ; it is not necessary,therefore, to remove the feet from the bar when using the brakes. The rudder bar itself has a very simple adjust-ment which allows for a wide variation in pilots' leg- length, and this can be made use of in flight. The adjust-able seat is controlled by a lever on the right-hand side, and is of the " push-to-raise " type. Being spring loaded—with rubber shock absorber cord—practically no force is required to put the pilot in the highest position. Theundercarriage has, of course, to carry the strain of braking, and the radius rods are therefore extremely strong. Theyare of the built-up type with internal stiffeners, and are in the form of streamline tubes. The axle is a plain steeltube faired to a streamline shape with aluminium. The wheels are faired with " spats," which, together withstrut-end fairings, give the whole undercarriage a very clean appearance. The oleo-cum-rubber compression legsare of the same type as those used on the Atlas II. A light bomb rack is fitted under the bottom port mainplane, and this, together with the two Vickers guns, forms the total offensive armament. The main planes, rigged in single-bay biplane form, areof Clark YH section, and constructed throughout of steel with a fabric covering. The outer incidence bracing isrigid, being streamline steel struts in the form of a N. The ends of these struts, as also those of the interplane strutsand the wing roots, are carefully faired in with aluminium fairings, giving the wing cellule a very clean form. Theplanes themselves have built-up steel strip spars with bulbous booms and a corrugated web. The drag bracingis of steel tubes and cross wires. The ribs are of strip steel drawn to the requisite channel or tubular section,while the covering is of doped fabric. The ailerons, which are Frise balanced, have a plaintube spar with similar ribs to the main planes. The lead- ing edge is a sheet of duralumin and forms the balance. Lord Trenchard THE following official announcement was made on October 8: —The King has been pleased to approve the recommendation of the Home Secretary that Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Trenchard, G.C.B., D.S.O., be appointed Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis, in succession to General Viscount Byng of Vimy, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., M.V.O. Honour for Schneider Pilots THE KING has approved the award of the Air Force Cross to the following officers of the Royal Air Force: — Fit. Lt. J. N. Boothman, in recognition of his achieve- ment in winning the Schneider Trophy Contest, 1931 ; and Fit. Lt. G. H. Stainforth, in recognition of his flights with the High-Speed Flight of the Royal Air Force in connection with the Schneider Trophy Contest, 1931, cul- The hinge points, which are set back behind the spar, areof the ball-bearing type, and are three in number The trailing edge of the top ailerons has a small movable flapbuilt in it to allow of final balancing after the aircraft is rigged. Both ailerons are statically balanced by virtueof placing the hinges behind the spars, the weight of which, together with the streamline steel strut connectingthe two ailerons, is sufficient to balance the trailing portion of the aileron. The rudder and elevators are both horn balanced, andthe elevator has a metal plate attached to the horn which ensures static balance as well. The rudder has aplain tubular post with drawn strip steel ribs, and, in a similar manner to the top ailerons, has the movableflap for final balancing. The elevators are built in two pieces with the steel tube spars joined at the centre, atwhich point duplicate levers are attached to the operating rod. The tailplane is very rigid, with a spar somewhat likethe main plane spars. The drag bracing is also of this spar section, and, being in the form of a Warren girdersupplemented by tubes at the centre, provides a tailplane which is proof against distortion. In the A.W.XVI thenose ribs are of duralumin, but the main ribs follow the same construction as those in the wings and are of steel. The tail skid is more or less conventional, and issprung with a steel coil spring of ample dimensions. In the air the A.W.XVI is very impressive indeed. Theslow-running airscrew makes the machine particularly silent, especially when flying slowly, as she can do, and yetstill be under perfect control. At high speed and at high angles of climb she shows to equal advantage, and leavesone in no doubt of her efficiency in the air. In spite of her excellent top speed and climb, her landing speed is low,and the run on landing, even without using the brakes, as short as could be wished for. To be concluded.) minating in the establishment of a world's speed recordon September 29. An R.101 EchoTHE KING has conferred the M.B.E. on Mr. George Darling, a young Englishman connected with the weil-known family of racehorse owners, who dragged two members of the crew of R.101 clear of the burning wreck-age and took them to hospital in his car. The decoration was presented to Mr. Darling on October 9 by LordTyrrell, British Ambassador in Paris. Japanese Bombing in ChinaIN the course of the Japanese occupation of Manchuru^ it is reported that Japanese aeroplanes have bombed ^nwrecked the railway junction of Taonan. Bombs are a- reported to have been dropped on Chinchow, on ^Peking-Mukden railway, and on another railway ste.io at Tahushan. Accurate reports of the casualties inflicthave not been received. 1036
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