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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0123.PDF
FLIGHT, FEBRUARY 8, 1934 AIR TRANSPORT & COMMERCE THE LATEST NORTHROPS The " VictDria " and " Delta " Models The1931 HESE latest additions to the Northrop range ofcivil aircraft are similar in general design to the Alphas " which carry the Los Angeles-New Yorknight mail for Transcontinental & Western Air. Alpha " was described in FLIGHT for September 11,It is claimed by the makers that as the result of improvements in structural and aerodynamic design thenew machines have a very much larger pay-load capacity and considerably improved performance for a given horse-power. Engine and airscrew noises are reduced to a mini- mum through the use of sound deadening insulationthroughout the cabin, and vibration is absorbed by in- sulating the engine on rubber cushioned mountings. Themachine can fly for long periods with the pilot's hands and feet off the controls. Full lateral control is maintainedbeyond the stalling point of the wing even with flaps down. The split trailing edgeflaps effect a big reduction in landing speed and length of glide. With flaps inthe " down " position the maximum lift of the aerofoil is increased by 35 per cent,and the drag by 300 per cent. Except where specifically stated, thefollowing description will apply to both the " Victoria," which is intended forprivate service, and the " Delta " trans- port. The fuselage is of Northrop all-metalstressed skin monococque construction with longitudinal stiffeners and oversizereinforcing rings forming a structure well able to withstand abuse on the groundand in the air ; 24S.R.T. Alclad is used throughout. Permanent jigged assemblyof the fuselage and centre section forms these into a rigid integral unit. Thecentre section is arranged to carry six fuel tanks of 340 gallons capacity, per-mitting long range operation without en- croaching upon the valuable cargo spacein the fuselage. An extremely clean cantilever type oflanding gear is fitted. It has been proved that fixed undercarriages in which inter-ference has been reduced to an absolute minimum add very little to the drag of the aircraft andavoid the extra weight and complication of retracting gear. The Northrop type gear probably reduces the top speedless than 6 m.p.h. The gear consists of four cantilever oleo pneumatic struts with a streamline fairing enclosingthe entire assembly. All parts of the gear, including the fairing, are quickly detachable, making tyre changing andwheel inspection rapid operations. The track is 9 ft. Bendix internal expanding brakes are differentially con-trolled by rudder pedals and may be set by a parking lever in the cockpit. Floats or skis are easily substituted forthe normal land undercarriage. A bulkhead at the junc- tion of the wing and centre section distributes all the land-ing loads and provides a quick and simple attachment for float struts and bracing wires. For the skis special oleo NORTHROP DELTA
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