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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 1160.PDF
FLIGHT, NOVEMBER 17, 1932 The Spartan " Cruiser " This three-engined six-seater is a low-wing cantilever monoplane fitted with three de Havilland Gipsy III engines (p. 1070). It has an extremely comfortable cabin, and safety is ensured by the ability of the machine to fly on any two of its three engines. Structurally the " Cruiser " resembles the Saro flying boats in that it has an " Alclad "-covered fuselage and wooden wings. The data of the Spartan " Cruiser Length o.a. .. Wing span Wing area Tare weight .. Pilot Five passengers Fuel and oil .. Gross weight .. Maximum speed Cruising speed Initial rate of climb Ceiling Range are: 39 ft. 2 in. (11,95 m.) 54 ft. 0 in. (16,45 m.) 436 sq. ft. (40,5 m".) 3,400 lb. (1 542 kg.) 170 lb. (77 kg.) 800 lb. (363 kg.) 1,000 lb. (454 kg.) 5,500 lb. (2 495 kg.) 135m.p.h. (217 km./h.) llOm.p.h. (177 km./h.) 600 ft./min. (3,06 m./sec.) 15,000 ft. (4 570 m.) 660 miles (1 062 km.) The machine can also be used as a freighter, when the pay load becomes 1,010 lb. (458 kg.), the range remaining the same as before. The Supermarine Aviation Works, Ltd. Woolston, Southampton COUNDED in 1913 by Mr. Noel Pemberton Billing, the Supermarine works are now a part of the Vickers (Aviation) group, but its traditions as seaplane designers and constructors are being maintained, and marine aircraft form the bulk of the firm's productions. Flying-boats have always been Supermarine's speciality, but it must not be overlooked that the firm has shown its ability to produce fast racing craft as well by designing and build ing no less than four Schneider Trophy winners! That, surely, is a unique record. The 'last of the Schneider winners, the S.6B with Rolls-Royce " R " engine, in addition to winning that classic race, also established, piloted by Fit. Lt. Stainforth, a world's speed record of 655 km./h. (407 m.p.h.). The Supermarine " Southampton " flying-boats have seen long and useful service, not only in British home waters, but also abroad. The latest version, the " South ampton " Mark II (page 1078), is fitted with two Rolls- Royce Kestrel engines, and evaporative cooling is em ployed, so that this machine is in every way up to date. Principal particulars of the " Southampton " Mark II Tare weight .. Crew (5) Fuel .. on Military load.. Gross weight .. Maximum speed Cruising speed Alighting speed Service ceiling Duration Range 9,014 lb. (4 088 kg.) 1,000 lb. (454 kg.) 3,496 lb. (1 586 kg.) 213 lb. (97 kg.) 1,127 1b. (511 kg.) 14,850 lb. (6 735 kg.) 117-5 m.p.h. (189 km./h.; 90 m.p.h. (145 km./h.) 54 m.p.h. (87 km./b.) 13.300 ft. (4 053 m.) 10i hours 945 miles (1 521 km.) The Supermarine Aviation Works are at present con structing an attractive private venture marine aircraft which will be available in both service and civil form. At present the firm prefers not to disclose any particulars. Vickers (Aviation) Limited Weybridge, Surrey A LTHOUGH the machines for which Vickers (Aviation), Ltd., are generally known throughout the world are probably mostly their heavy long-distance night bombers, of which the firm has supplied large numbers to the R.A.F., the firm has produced a great many other types, several of which have gained fame abroad. Of the many types produced we have space here to deal with but a very few. It might be recalled, however, that a Vickers " Vespa " (Bristol Pegasus engine) holds the world's alti tude record (pilot. C. F. Uwins, of the Bristol Company) of 13,404 m. (43,976 ft.). The " Vildebeest " Fitted for a range of duties such as reconnaissance, general purposes, bombing and torpedo carrying, the scope of the " Vildebeest" (page 1070) does not end 1 there, but includes also the fitting of floats, when a variety of seaplane functions can be performed by the machine. As a torpedoplane the " Vildebeest " has now been adopted as the standard machine of the R.A.F., and squadrons are in process of being re-equipped with it. As used in the R.A.F. the machine will be powered by the Bristol Pegasus engine. Another version of the " Vildebeest " is fitted with the Hispano-Suiza 12-Lbr engine of 600 h.p. The armament consists of two Vickers machine guns, one synchronised to fire through the propeller and the other on a Scarff ring in the rear cockpit, and of either a torpedo weighing 2,200 lb. (1 000 kg.) or the equivalent load of bombs. The main data of the '' Vildebeest '' are: — Length o.a. Wing span Wing area Tare weight Fuel and military load Gross weight Max. permissible weight Maximum speed Speed at 3 000 m. .. Range Absolute ceiling 38 ft. 6 in. (11,75 m.) 49 ft. 0 in. (14,94 m.) 728 sq. ft. (67,75 m2.) 4,459 lb. (2 020 kg.) 3,500 lb. (1 590 kg.) 8,346 lb. (3 786 kg.) 8,500 lb. (3 854 kg.) 136 m.p.h. (220 km./h.) 120 m.p.h. (193 km./h.) 746 miles (1 200 km.) 14,250 ft. (4 350 m.) When the machine is fitted 'with the Pegasus engine the performance is slightly increased, with the exception of the range, which is slightly decreased. The " Jockey " Known as the " Jockey," this diminutive Vickers machine (page 1071) is a single-seater interceptor fighter of all-metal construction, including the covering of wings and fuselage (Duralumin). The machine is a low-wing monoplane, and the armament consists of two syn chronised Vickers guns with 1,200 rounds of ammunition. The engine is a Bristol Jupiter VII F (or any equivalent engine), and with this power the machine has the following characteristics: — Length o.a. .. Wing span Wing area Tare weight .. Pilot Petrol Oil Service equipment 23 ft. 0 in. (7 01 m.) 32 ft. 8 in. (9,9 m.) ISO sq. ft. (14 m!.) 2,268 lb. (1 029 kg.) 180 lb. (82 kg.) 392 lb. (178 kg.) 50 lb. (23 kg.) 271 lb. (123 kg.) The highest speed is attained at 3 000 m. (9,840 ft.), and is 218 m.p.h. (352 km./h.). The initial rate of climb is l,8s0 ft./min. (9,4 m./sec), and the absolute ceiling 31,500 ft. (9 600 m.) The " Victoria " The " Victoria " (page 1078) is in extensive use by the British Royal Air Force as a troop carrier, with cabin space for 22 troops. The engines (two) are Napier Lion XI, with which the machine has the following characteristics: — Length o.a. Wing span Wing area Tare weight Gross weight .. Maximum speed Range Absolute ceiling 59 ft. 6 in. (18,1 m.) 87 ft. 4 in. (26,6 m.) 2,178 sq. ft. (202 ms.) 10,030 1b. (4 549 kg.) 17,760 lb. (8 040 kg.) llOm.p.h. (177 km./h.) 770 miles (1 240 km.) 16,200 ft. (4 940 m.) When the Bristol Pegasus is fitted, the disposable load is increased, and the sped goes up to 130 m.p.h. (209 km./h.), while other performance figures are similarly improved. Westland Aircraft Works Yeovil, Somerset COR many years the Westland Aircraft Works, which are a branch of the very old firm of Petters, Ltd., have concentrated largely on general-purpose aircraft, and the " Wapiti," which is so far the most famous of these, has been supplied to the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the South African Air Force in numbers exceeding 500. However, all good things must come to an end, and even the " Wapiti " could not last for ever. Realising this, the Westland designers set to work to produce a successor, in which should be incor porated all such improvements as the vast experience accumulated with the " Wapiti " at home, in Iraq and in India had suggested. The result has been that before the " Wapiti " has become obsolete the Westland Aircraft Works already have the " next step " in production, largely due to the foresight of the firm's managing director, Mr. Bruce. The " Wallace " Originally produced as a " Private Venture," and known as the P.V.6, the " Wallace " is, like the " Wapiti," a 082
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