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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0129.PDF
FLIGHT. FEBRUARY 8. 1934 A NEW SARO FLYING BOAT 2 Bristol " Pegasus " Engines /Till— O the '' family '' of flying boats designed and builtII by Saunders-Roe, Ltd., of East Cowes, Isle of _ill_ Wight, has quite recently been added yet another,identified for the present as the 24/31. This boat is an all-metal production incorporating the Saro featureswhich have proved so successful in previous machines. The hull plating shows the usual fore-and-aft corrugationswith which one has become familiar in the " Clouds," " Windhovers " and " Cutty Sarks." The machine is,however, a biplane, resembling somewhat an earlier type of service flying boat, the A.7, but incorporating the ex-perience which the firm has accumulated since the design- ing and building of that machine. As the Saro 24/31 has been built for the Air Ministry,and is a military type, no performance figures may be given, but it is thought that long non-stop flights fromone base to another in the British Empire are among the objects for which the machine was designed. The very excellent photograph, taken by Mr. Beken ofCowes, which we publish on this page, shows that the Saro 24/31 has its two Bristol " Pegasus " enginesmounted close under the top plane in a position where the airscrews are as far removed from spray as possible. The hull shows the usual flat, tumble-home sides of Saroboats, and the underwater portion has two steps of pro- nounced straight-vee formation. Lateral stability on thewater is ensured by wing-tip floats. The flat-sided hull is very roomy and provides comfortable living accommoda-tion for the crew. The machine has been designed to operate as a self-contained unit and carries its own dinghyand anchoring gear. Access to the interior of the hull is through a door in the side, so that the operation, of board-ing the machine while it is at moorings is greatly facili- tated. Ahead of the wings, and sheltered by a raised roof withwindows of unbreakable glass, is the pilot's compartment, from which a good forward view is obtained, while theengines can always be seen from the compartment. The tail consists of a monoplane tailplane and elevator,and of two fins and rudders, placed at the extreme ends of the horizontal tailplane. The rudders have hornbalances and are operated by servo rudders carried on out- riggers. No performance figures may be published, but it is per-missible to state that the gross weight of the machine is a little over 8 tons. Films of interest SOME cinematograph films, of both importance andgreat interest, were shown before the members of the Royal Aero Club on Tuesday, January 30. The display was oneof those periodically organised for the entertainment of mem- bers. The first was a collection of unshown aviation shots,kindly lent by the Movietone News and presented by Mr. R. L. Preston. We noticed several gentlemen well knownin insurance circles looking somewhat white about the " gills," and we were not surprised, because the films werefor the most part a collection of moving pictures (moving, in more senses than one!) of crashes. These had, however,their educative value and, from an aircraft designer's point of view alone, were well worth seeing. It is not often,for example, that anything quite so amusing is seen as the picture of an enthusiast pedalling hard in an endeavour toraise a contraption with eight or nine wings from the ground, only to suffer eclipse when all the wings folded upover his head. The second series of films were the results of a large amount of labour on the part of Mr. W. E.Johns, who had unearthed quantities of film from the deep recesses and proverbial pigeon holes of the War Office andAir Ministry. Johns had pieced these together, thus form- ing a unique and altogether extremely interesting recordof flying during the war years. The first thing which struck us was the high standard of the photography. It washard to believe that we were seeing films taken some 16 or 17 years ago, especially when the great increase in technicalfilming knowledge is considered. Johns showed this film at the Schoolboys' Exhibition and found, as a result, thatmany ex R.N.A.S. and R.F.C. officers came to him to tell him about points in the film which they recognised. Hehas, therefore, been able to piece together the whole thing and so to deal with it as it is now shown. It makes anadmirable record of a large part of the war period and will gladden the hearts of those who like " reminiscing."Finally, through the great courtesy of the K.L.M., the members were shown a film of the Amsterdam to Bataviaroute. This was for the most part taken as propaganda to show the type of country and the scenes through which atraveller over the route passes. The K.L.M. not only lent the Club the film, but also arranged for Mr. C. Kaufimann,their London Manager, to attend and explain it. An arrangement which was much appreciated. No. io Sq., R.F.C. (R.A.F.), reunion dinner No. 10 SQUADRON, R.F.C. (R.A.F.), will hold their Seventh Annual Reunion Dinner (all ranks) in London on Saturday, February 24. Tickets, 5s. 6d., from A. F. Williams, " Rozel," Amersham, Bucks. 129
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