FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0708.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 15, 1932 Two interior views of the cabin of the Caproni " Nord-Africa." On the left, looking aft, showing at the extreme rear the 2nd Class compartment. On the right, looking forward, showing the wireless installation in forward left-hand as it is desirable to have separate sections for European and native passengers—and so a " second-class cabin " is provided. The " Nord-Africa " is a semi-cantilever high-wing monoplane fitted with a 400-h.p. Romeo " Jupiter " in the nose and two 210-h.p. Romeo " Lynx " engines on the wings. The latter are located in nacelles mounted on a system of wing and fuselage struts below the wings. The central engine is separated from the pilot's cockpit by a fireproof wall. The wings—of wood and steel construction, fabric covered—have a semi-thick section and a slight dihedral angle ; balanced ailerons are fitted. The bracing struts extend from the lower fuselage longerons to the engine nacelles, and thence to the wing spars ; struts also run from the engine nacelles up to the top fuselage longerons. In the front of the fuselage, at the leading edge of the wings, is the pilot's cockpit, with sliding windows. Dual control of the wheel and pedal type is provided, the engine control levers and brake lever being located centrally be tween the two seats. Below the left-hand seat is the " Garelli " compressor starter, while near the right-hand seat is the wheel for adjusting (during flight) the incidence of the tail plane. Back cushion-type Salvator parachutes are fitted, while a trap-door in the floor not only affords additional visibility downwards, but also provides a means of escape, if necessary, by parachute. Immediately behind the pilot's cockpit is the first-class cabin, with six seats, three aside, next to large sliding windows. In the forward left-hand corner is the wireless transmitting and receiving installation—a Marconi long wave type. At the rear of the cabin is the second-class cabin, with a two-seat sofa, on the right of which is the lavatory. Behind this again is the luggage and mail com partment. A windmill-operated Marelli dynamo-accumu lator plant provides the electric current for lighting, etc. The principal characteristics of the Caproni 101 " Nord- Africa " are:—Span, 61 ft. 7 in. ; O.A. length, 44 ft. 4 in. ; wing area, 391.8 sq. ft. ; weight, empty, 6,615 lb. ; useful load, 4,410 lb. ; total weight, 11,025 lb. ; speed, maximum, 130.5 m.p.h. ; cruising, 118 m.p.h. ; landing, 56 m.p.h. ; climb, to 3,218 ft., 5 min. 30 sec. ; 12,870 ft., 43 min. ; ceiling, 16,090 ft. ; range, 500 miles. C. DE R. New Planes for New York-Washington Speed Service THE Ludington Line, which, since September, 1930, has operated an hourly passenger and express service between New York and Washington without subsidy in the form of mail contracts, has taken delivery of the first of three new 9-seater Consolidated Fleetsters. The line will provide a regular express service of 80 min. between Washington and New York. The new Fleetster is a vast improvement over earlier models in many respects. The maximum speed is 180 m.p.h. and the machines will be cruised in regular service at about 155 m.p.h. The Model Engineer Exhibiton ENGINEERING, railways, shipping and aviation in miniature, as well as light machine tools and small power equipment, will be represented at the Fourteenth Annual Small Power Engineering and Electrical Exhibition to be held at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster, from September 1 to 10. Explaining the Interior THE modern youth is intensely interested in flying. He knows the points which distinguish in external appear ance one make of aircraft from another. The time has gone when every small aeroplane was, to him, a " Moth," and every large aircraft a Handley Page. But he very often has not had an opportunity to see the internal struc ture of an aeroplane, although once it is explained to him he grasps the principle readily. A welcome aid towards explaining the internal anatomy of an aeroplane is a book of coloured plates recently published by'Shell-Mex & B.P., Ltd. The plates are large and very clear, and successive landing speed is listed as between 50 and 55 m.p.h. The power plant is a 550-h.p. Wright " Cyclone," mounted in a full N.A.C.A. cowling. Landing gear is of a two-strut type and " super-balloon " airwheels are used for landing gear and tail. An interesting feature is the application of rubber strips to the leading edges of the high monoplane wing and the rear stabiliser to prevent heavy rains damaging the finish under the terrific impact generated at high speed. Amelia Earhart Putnam is a Vice-President of the Ludington Line—and her Atlantic " Vega " was formerly in regular service on the line. SS 5§ S £§ layers can be lifted up to show the structure which lies beneath the external covering. All controls are shown in a similar manner, and the large plate which exposes the four-cylinder-in-line engine shows successively the external view of the cowled engine, the mounting of the engine in the fuselage, and the engine itself sectioned to show pistons, etc. The book, which is entitled " The Modern Aeroplane," must have been an expensive publication, and obviously cannot be issued wholesale, but any reader of FLIGHT with a reasonable claim to consideration may obtain a copy free by writing to Shell-Mex & B.P., Ltd., Shell Corner, Kingsway, London, W.C.2. R.Ae.S. President AT the last meeting of Council the following officers of the Society were elected for the year 1932-33. Presi dent: Mr. C. R. Fairey, M.B.E., F.R.Ae.S. Vice- Presidents: Prof. L. Bairstow, C.B.E., F.R.S., F.R.Ae.S. ; Air Marshal Sir R. Brooke Popham, K.C.B., C.M.G.. D.S.O . A.F.C., F.R.Ae.S. ; Mr. A. F. Sidgreaves, O.B.E.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
