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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0732.PDF
FLIGHT, OCTOBER 5, 1933 INVERTED FLYING AND THE COMPASS E have been asked whether " throwing a machine about " or flying inverted damages the com pass as ordinarily used in light aeroplanes, and have therefore obtained the following details from Smith's Aircraft Instruments, who market the well- known Husun range of aircraft compasses. In their com passes the pivot is attached to the magnetic system, and the jewel is secured to the upright in the bowl. When the compass is inverted the magnetic system with the pivot falls away from the cupped jewel and is prevented from falling too far by resting on a collar or baffle ring which is fitted for this purpose, and so arranged that when the compass is returned to normal position the pivot engages in the jewelled cup without fail. It will be seen from this that in inverted flight the magnetic system is supported on the relatively large area of the collar instead of on a pivot and will not therefore revolve freely. It is just possible that the magnetic system may, during prolonged inverted flights, work round to somewhere near its proper direction, but this cannot, of course, be regarded in any way as a true directional indication. While on the sub ject of Husun compasses there are a few more notes which may be of interest to users. They are manufactured by Henry Hughes & Son, Ltd., and marketed throughout the world by Smith's Aircraft Instruments, of 185, Great Portland Street, London, W.l. They are aperiodic com passes and are manufactured under the Campbell-Bennett patents, and are, of course, fully approved by the Air Alinistry for Service and civil aviation. They are made in numerous versions to suit all requirements, the most common of which are the P.4, the S.O.2 (this type was incidentally fitted to the 24 Savoia Marchetti flying boats of the Italian Air Force which recently visited America) and the Mark III.A. This latter is probably the most popular light aeroplane compass, and is standardised by many makers throughout the world. The 1933 model of this type has several improvements, one being the Sylphon tube for the expansion chamber. This is designed to eliminate the possibility of bubbles forming in the com pass bowl through changes of temperature due to altitude or other causes. Cobalt steel magnets, which exert a far stronger magnetic pull than ordinary steel magnets, are also used in this latest model. Another improvement is the fitting of a single lever-operated clamp for the grid ring. Finally, all Husun compasses are supplied with the micro-adjuster, which obviates the necessity of having a variety of small magnets for correction purposes. A New Fireproof Material MAJ. VAN ROLLEGHEM, a Belgian officer, on Friday, September 29, demonstrated at Heston a new material which he claims to be fireproof. The exact composition of this material was not disclosed, but it appears to be some thing ill the nature of asbestos sheeting encased in some torn"! Of mica. A little model of an aeroplane made of this material stood in blazing petrol flames for the space of several minutes and seemed none the worse, neither was the little machine made particularly hot. A tin of petrol made of this material was placed in the cockpit of the model and again flames enveloped it, but the petrol tin did not explode. Two white .mice were also placed in the cock pit and underwent an ordeal by fire, emerging alive and apparently none the worse. Maj. Van Rolleghem then placed himself behind a screen of this same material while a petrol fire was lighted in front of it, the flames being blown against the shield by the slipstream from an aero plane being run up on the ground ; Maj. Rolleghem was, of course, not burned, and it was noticed that the inside surface of the shield was only slightly warm. Another experiment was made with a tank which was stated to be lined with another special substance ; this tank was bat tered about with considerable vigour, but showed no signs of bursting. Maj. Rolleghem states that it is his intention to build a larger model of a machine in the cockpit of which he will be able to place himself while flames are lighted around. The demonstration itself was convincing enough, but before any real importance can be attached to it a similar demonstration must be given on a larger scale, and a little more divulged concerning the material, to wit, its weight, strength, etc. I.A.T.A. : Delegates from all the principal air companies in Europe attending the conference of the International Air Traffic Association, at Old Hall, Lincoln's Inn, September 27. 1012
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