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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 1226.PDF
FLIGHT, DECEMBER 1, 1932 •'.• ....•..•., • : ., .... .. ; .. • , •• • ; STARTING UP : By pulling a wire wound round a drum behind the engine. (FLIGHT Photo.) machines show the slightest tendency to be blown over, while on the ground, by the windy gusts. Mr. Lowe-Wylde claims that his machines possess a very small angle of glide, which he was unfortunately un able to demonstrate on Sunday owing to the wind necessi tating the use of the engine while landing. Also he states that they do not stall easily, and that their behaviour after doing so is in no way alarming. This little aeroplane is, of course, only in an experimental stage, and will no doubt be vastly improved. The engine mounting, for instance, THE POWER UNIT : A close-up showing the little Douglas on its mounting and the petrol tank above it. (FLIGHT Photo.) 1 is crude and the petrol tank unnecessarily exposed. We understand that an entirely different design is the ulti mate object of these experiments. So much for the machines themselves ; now a word about their utility and possibilities. One gentleman, well known in aeronautical circles, was heard to remark that these " Baby " machines were only toys and could serve no useful purpose. That, of course, is far from being a fair criticism, and in any case one might remind this critic that the invention of steam-powered engines owes its origin to a boy toying with a kettle ; whilst there is a popular story that the man who first made experi ments with electricity had his curiosity aroused while flying a kite in a thunderstorm. Actually these " Baby " aeroplanes bear the same comparison to what the same critic called " real aeroplanes," as the small yacht or speedboat does to a liner, or as the " Baby " car does to a larger motor vehicle, and no one would accuse either a speedboat or a Morris Minor of being devoid of utility. One very good use to which these little aeroplanes could be put is for instructional purposes. The lirst thing that a would-be pilot has to learn is to acquire an " air sense," which is not generally developed until several hours' solo have been done ; and the dangerous period in a pupil's training is when he or she is acquiring this " air sense." This could be acquired as easily on Mr. Lowe-Wylde's machines as on light aeroplanes more highly powered and in a shorter time. The advantages of such a " Baby machine so used are twofold ; firstly cheapness, and secondly safety. Mr. Lowe-Wylde's " Babies " could probably be marketed at about £150 if the demand was great enough, and the cost of upkeep and running would be ridiculously small—one and a-half hours' flying on one gallon of petrol! As regards safety, it is a known fact that a large proportion of flying accidents occur either when the machine is landing or when it is gliding in to land. Mr. Lowe-Wylde's "Babies" could be glided in at a very slow speed and manoeuvred in a most outrageous way without danger being caused to the pilot. As for piling them up landing—well, the difficulty would be to do it rather than to avoid doing it. In conclusion, though these machines are only " Babies," still even babies grow up, and if properly nurtured be come useful members of the community. Also, Mr. Lowe- Wylde can be doing no harm to aviation by his experi ment, and " those that are not against us are for us. It rests very largely, as we have many times pointed out, with getting a suitable engine, and if the two Douglas aircraft engines, now being built, turn out successful, then this problem should largely be solved. 148
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