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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0664.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 1, 1932 THE "LOST OASIS" >|r SHORT while back we referred to an expedition, C~^Sjlj led by Sir Robert Clayton East, to the Libyan <ZS JlL Desert with the object of locating the lost oasis of Zarzura. We have received from Shell Mex & B.P., Ltd., a few details regarding the part played by the aeroplane used in this venture, which we think may be of interest. It having been decided to start the expedition at Kharga, supplies of food, fuel and oil were laid down there, whence they could be transported by car and lorry to the various points in the desert. Besides natives, the party consisted of Sir Clayton East, Count Almasy, Mr. P. A. Clayton, of the Egyptian Government Desert Survey, and Sqd. Ldr. Penderel, R.A.F. The latter flew from Cairo to Kharga in a R.A.F. machine on April 12, Sir Robert and Count Almasy following in the " Moth." They found no hitch in the organisation, either for food supplies or for Shell products, and everything was found in readiness at Kharga. On April 13 the party set out in cars and lorry with supplies with the object of going ahead in the desert to mark out suitable landing grounds and lay petrol dumps. Landing grounds were marked out with a circle in the sand made by a car, corner marks consisting of empty Shell petrol tins, and the direction of the wind was given by a line of four empty Shell petrol tins and natives stand ing at an interval of about 40 yd. The benzine tins were also very useful for carrying water from the Owenat Well, and also, to attract the attention of the aircraft from the ground, and an empty tin, flattened out, was very useful as a heliograph t The landing grounds having been marked out, the party returned to Kharga for more petrol and to take the " Moth " over the route thus prepared. It was arranged that the aeroplane should alight on each landing ground after about every hour's flight, whether the cars were there or not, so as to allow them to know it had passed. Over unknown country the machine had to follow the car tracks in the sand, and this was very difficult indeed owing to sand-blink, so when the tracks were lost the machine had to land and taxy until they were found again —a nasty business, especially as in rocky country landing markings are very difficult to find. On one occasion the aeroplane had to circle round the car because the track was invisible from the air and so the car had to be used as a moving landmark. The procedure in case of a forced landing was that Verey lights would be sent out from the machine at IN SKARCH OF THE LOST OASIS : Refuelling Sir Robert Clayton East's " Moth " with " Shell " in the desert, some 150 km. north of Owenat. 8 o'clock, five minutes past 8, 11 o'clock and five minutes past 11. Only one forced landing occurred, however, and that beyond Bir Messach when the pilots were discovered within half an hour by the cars. Although they were able to fly over what was con sidered to be the lost oasis, they were forced to return to Kharga three days later, as the expedition had been timed to turn back on this day and no further supplies had been provided. Shell fuel and oil gave every satisfaction, and through out the whole of the expedition only three Shell benzine tins were found to have leaked at all—and as the tins in question were left in the sun for several days when the shade temperature was about 100 deg. F., the high pres sure developed therein naturally caused leakage, which under the circumstances was very small. The machine did 30 hours' flying without the oil being changed, and, although discoloured, this was in perfect condition ; the oil pressure never dropped below 40 and the engine never overheated, while the plugs were never even looked at. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED Stationery Trade Review. Vol. 1. No. 2. June, 1932. British & Export Publications, Ltd., 4, Carmelite Street, London, E.C.4. Price Is. Cylinder Bore Wear. By Birmid. The Birmingham Aluminium Casting (1903), Co., Ltd. Smethwick Birmingham. Airplane Pilot's Manual. By Ross Mahachek. New York and London : G. P. Putnam's Sons. 21s. net. m m m m NEW COMPANIES REGISTERED SILVER STAR LIMITED, Rosemont, Molyneux Road, Weybridge. Capital £100 in £1 shares. Objects, to establish, conduct, and carry on the business~of pleasure nights and joy- or taxi-rides by aeroplanes in Great Britain and abroad. Directors: F. W. J. Horder, Rosemont, Molyneux Road, Weybridge, company director; Mrs. A. C. Randall-Stevens, Julian Hill, Wevbridge. AIR PAGEANTS LIMITED. Capital £100 in £1 shares Objects, to promote and encourage aerial navigation ; to organise and hold aeroplane and other aircraft shows, exhibitions, and competitions, etc. Secretary : F. M. Macgregor. Directors not named. PERCY LANE LIMITED, Planet Works, Tyburn Road, Erdington, Birmingham. Capital £3,000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers, patentees, etc. of windscreens, reflectors, motor visors and accessories for aeroplanes and motor vehicles, etc. Permanent director: P. Lane, Brueton Avenue Solihull, Warwickshire, foundry owner. 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 June 30, 1932 36,190. VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS, LTD., and J. P. WATSON. Apparatus for anti-aircraft guns. (374,058.) 36,194. VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS, LTD., and J. P. WATSON. Apparatus for anti-aircraft guns. (374,059.) 7,527. 11,054. 11,089. 15,191. APPLIED FOR IN 1931 Published June 30, 1932. L. MARTIN. Wheels and brakes. (374,169.) WILMOT, MANSOUR & Co., LTD., C. M. WILMOT and J. M. WILMOT. Devices for winding model aeroplanes. (374,203.) CARBURATORI MEMINI Soc. ANON. ITALIANA. Carburettor for aviation engines operating in any position of the aerial vehicle. (374,204.) R. TILING. Flying rocket. (374,247.) FLIGHT, The Aircraft Engineer and Airships. 36, GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C.2 Telephone (2 lines): Holborn, 3211. Hoi born, 1884. Telegraphic address: Truditur, Westcent, London. SUBSCRIPTION RATES POST FREE UNITED KINGDOM *. d. 3 Months 8 3 6 „ 16 6 12 „ 33 0 UNITED STATES 3 Months $220 6 „ $4-40 12 „ $8-75 OTHER COUNTRIES s. d. 3 Months 8 9 6 „ 17 6 12 „ 35 0 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 can obtain each issue direct from the Publishing Office, by for warding remittance as above. 616
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