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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0031.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 6, 1933 AiP repgmraoPt: THE LOCKHEED " ELECTRA A SHORT while back the Lockheed factory decided to discontinue building a large, single-motored, all-metal monoplane then in hand, and concentrate on a small, twin-engined machine. The result is the " Electra." This is a low-wing monoplane designed to combine speed and comfort with low cost and maintenance. It is all metal, the ivings being of semi-stress skin type con struction, readily accessible and repaiiable. For the structural parts 24 ST is used throughout, the covering being 24 ST Alclad. Detachable wing panels facilitating inspection and maintenance. The cabin measures 4 ft. 10 in. wide, 5 ft. high, and 15 ft. long ; it is well ventilated, comfortable, and soundproof. Excellent vision is possible from the pilot's cockpit, which is situated forward. Con ventional wheel controls are used, and com plete instrument equipment. including Sperry Directional Gyro and Sperry Arti ficial Horizon, are fitted. The engines, in streamlined nacelles, are built into the wings close to the fuselage. The fuel tanks, of 100 gallons capacity each, are built into the entering %dge of the wing stub between the engines and the fuselage. Simple wing flaps are incorporated which reduce take-off and landing speed. Horizontal and directional balance is accomplished with adjustable flaps at the trailing edge of the rudder and elevator. A retractable landing gear is operated electrically and has an auxiliary emergency hand- operated system. The wheels swing directly back into the icar of the nacelle and arc completely faired in when in the retracted position. The retraction system used Some idea of the Lockheed " Electra " is provided by this photo of a model. permits a variable fore and aft location of the wheels in extended position, so that the machine may more suitably be balanced on the ground with variable loading condi tions. Goodyear air wheels are used with Goodyear hydraulic brakes controlled by a hand lever convenientlv located and differentially connected to the rudder pedals. It is claimed that this machine will cruise at 180 m.p.h. with 2,200 lb. of payload. The two engines develop together 840 h.p. SOUTH AFRICAN AIR DEVELOPMENTS FROM July 1, Union Airways was scheduled to operate a daily service of eight-seater Junkers monoplanes between Durban and Johannesburg. At present this company has six-seater Junkers machines leaving Durban and Johannesburg on alternate days, giving a tri-weekly service, while another company, Arrow Air Lines, 1ms a " Waco " operating on the days when no I nion Airways' aeroplanes leave. The Union Government has extended the mail-carrying contract, and, when the enlarged service begins, letters will leave Durban and Johannesburg every clay and be delivered within four hours. Not only will this be a valu able link between Durban and the Rand, but also between Durban and other parts of Southern Africa beyond Johan nesburg, such as Bulawayo and Salisbury, and invaluable to the business communities of the larger centres. Two new eight-seater Junkers recently left Europe for Africa, piloted by Maj. A. Miller, Joint Managing Director of the Company, and Capt. Fry. These machines are equipped with 550-h.p. "Hornet" engines, are designed for complete blind flying, and will carry wireless operators. Arrangements have been made for the aeroplane from Johannesburg on Saturdays to leave at 8 o'clock instead of 10. so that mail matter and passengers from London and intermediate landing places bound for Durban will be able to reach here before 11 o'clock. In this way Durban will receive its overseas mail exactly ten days after it leaves London, and, for the first time in history, before Capetown receives hers. On Tuesday mornings the machine from Durban will also leave two hours earlier to save delay in the transposition of mails and passengers from Union Air ways' aeroplane, which arrives from Capetown with letters sent by mail boat. From a local point of view the most important news of late is the intimation that Union Airways intend transfer ring its headquarters from Port Elizabeth to Durban. Apart from other advantages inherent in the centralisation of the company's services here, approximately £1,500 will be circulated monthly in the wages of the staff. Mr. P. L. Lindup, Secretary to the Civil Air Board, has written to the Town Clerk of Durban saying that as Durban will become an important terminal aerodrome, it is felt that it would be a convenient and desirable arrange ment if Union Airways could become the licensees of the aerodrome. A. I. F. England—Calcutta Air Route Opened _ THE Postmaster-General announces that, commencing with the mail leaving London on July 1, the England-India an- mail service has been extended from Karachi to Cal cutta, via Jodhpur, Delhi, Cawnpore, Allahabad and • ^-isol. The postage rates for air mail correspondence T t?ded for transmission by air beyond Karachi are: — otters, first half ounce, 8d. ; each additional half ounce, 7d. : Postcards, 4d. These are the same as for correspond ence intended for transmission by the existing air services to Delhi and Madras. Correspondence prepaid at these rates should be marked in the top left-hand corner " By air in India." It will be due to reach Calcutta on Satur day, seven days after despatch from London. The new service will also offer advantage for Burma ; the mail will be due at Rangoon on Tuesday, ten days after despatch 671
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