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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 1244.PDF
FLIGHT, DECEMBER 1, 1932 THE INDUSTRY THE STORY OF DUNLOP QUITE an interesting story of how the late J. B. Dunlop invented the pneumatic tyre has been written by his daughter, Jean McClintock. The inventor was a veterinary surgeon by force of circumstances, but his natural inclination lay in things mechanical and scientific. His first tyres were not worn out after 3,000 miles running, and a front tyre that he designed for a racing bicycle built in 1889 was in good condition after 8,000 miles, and was ridden by him as late as 1917. Dunlop did not, as one story suggested, ever resort to hose pipe in his early experiments. He knew that the material was too inelastic and would be much slower than a solid tyre. VACUUM OIL CONTRACT ""THE Vacuum Oil Company of South Africa, Ltd., have received a con tract from Sir Alan Cobham covering his entire petrol requirements during his forthcoming South African Tour. Pegasus Motor Spirit and Pegasus Aviation Spirit will be supplied, and a Pegasus petrol tank wagon will accompany the tour throughout. In addition, Sir Alan Cobham's circus will have the assistance of the Vacuum Oil Company's " Avian," piloted by Mr. Louw. AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, LTD. C1NCE Aircraft Components, Ltd., ^ introduced their shock-absorber strut to the aircraft industry they have received a succession of satisfactory reports, and within twelve months this component has been adopted by 15 aircraft manufacturers. Our readers will be familiar with the fact that the strut is the design of Mr. G. H. Dowty, managing director of the company just named. It is an all-metal strut offering very low resist ance combined with exceptional light ness. As a standardised unit it has the merit of requiring no maintenance, no adjustment of glands, and there are no parts to deteriorate. Occasional oiling is all that is needed. The greater number of spring units employed the smaller will be the strut diameter. The number of units that can be used is limited by the pin- centre length of strut and the spring travel required, but the strut width seldom exceeds one half that of other struts having similar shock-absorbing capacity. The latest type struts of Dowty design incorporate a device for perfectly controlling spring recoil. This prevents unsteadiness during taxying, or bouncing of the aircraft on landing. During strut closure a quantity of oil is forced into a chamber above the piston, and any outward movement of the strut causes a disc valve to close this chamber. A small port in the disc valve restrains outward movement but allows the springs to return quickly enough to be in readiness for the next shock, yet not so quickly as to cause bouncing. All the vertical landing energy is absorbed during the first closure of the strut. With regard to maintenance, an oil filler plug lies flush with the outside of the strut and this is removed periodically and oil poured into the strut by means of a funnel until it overflows. Filling can be done with the strut in any position. The latest aircraft on which the Dowty strut has been standardised is the Saunders-Roe " Cloud." Air craft Components, Ltd., have received a favourable report from National Aviation Day, Ltd., concerning their undercarriage design on the Airspeed " Ferry " machines after the gruelling campaign round Great Britain this summer. A total of 9,180 landings were made by these machines in six months. CIRRUS-HERMES INFORMATION THE latest folder issued by Cirrus- *• Hermes Engineering Co., Ltd., describes their range of light aero engines from the 85/95-h.p. Cirrus III to the 120/130-h.p. Hermes IV. All unnecessary data are left out, leaving The display of" Standard " radio equipment at the Paris Aero Show. It included a receiver for light aircraft, two combined transmitting and receiving sets for large or medium-steed aircraft, and a transmitter and receiver for fighting aircraft. The apparatus seen in the centre of the display is an aerodrome transmitter. 1158 A pair of shock absorber struts manu factured by Aircraft Components, Ltd. for the Saunders-Roe "Cloud." This type of strut is standard on the "Cloud." clear and essential information, cover ing the specifications and installation details. A companion folder is also issued in French, and interested parties can obtain this useful infor mation on application to the company at Croydon Aerodrome. Our attention is drawn to errors in the captions under illustrations of the " Cirrus " engines which appeared on page 1116 of FLIGHT, November 24. The sectioned view shows a " Cirrus- Hermes II," not a " Cirrus-Hermes IV." The other illustration shows the latter. SPARTAN AND THE NAPIER ENGINE T N a report of an oil test using * " Adcol N.P.5 " Aero Engine Oil in FLTGHT for November 24, it was stated that Airwork, Ltd., fitted the Napier engine during the test in the " Spartan " fuselage. Actually, of course, the installation of the engine was entirely the care of Spartan Air craft, Ltd., the designers and con structors of the aircraft ; this firm also carried out the initial test flights, so that when the machine was handed over to Airwork, Ltd., it was in possession of a full C. of A. The latter firm then went ahead and super vised the remaining large number of flying hours of which the test was constituted. CHRISTMAS GIFTS A CHRISTMAS gift display is •**• being arranged for December by London and Provincial Aviation Co., 3, Thackeray Street, Kensington Square, W.8, consisting of accessories, maps, books, instruments and other objects suitable as gifts for those interested in aviation.
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