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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0412.PDF
FLIGHT, APRIL 26, 1934 A MODERN INTERIOR : Two wide doors are provided for pas- sengers in the 1934 model "Gull." A third door gives easy access to the luggage locker. ; _ (FLIGHT Photo.) A new wing-folding arrange- ment which is simple, safe and easily operated is now fitted. Much comment has been aroused regarding the under- carriage of the " Gull," which is of Percival design and construc- tion. The original design was so clean that the complications of a retractable version were not con- sidered worth while. It was, how- ever, generally considered a little harsh, and has now been re- designed. Longer travel is pro- vided for in the shock absorbers. The tail skid fitted to the early Gulls " has been superseded by a swivelling tail wheel. The " Gull " which was demon- strated by Capt. Percival at Heston last Friday was fitted with a Napier " Javelin " engine, but " Gipsy Major " and " Hermes IV " engined versions are available, and the de Havilland " Gipsy Six " engine of about 200 h.p. is soon to be fitted as an alternative power plant. At present Capt. Percival is waiting to make the first " Gipsy Six " installation in a " Gull," and this version should be flying in about four or five weeks' time. Capt. Percival expects that the top speed, with the " Gipsy Six," will be about 170 m.p.h. and the cruising speed 160 m.p.h. It should be remem- bered in this connection that the normal power of the " Gipsy Six " is more than the maximum power of the " Javelin," with which engine the top speed of a " Gull " is about 160 m.p.h. With a " Gipsy Major " or " Hermes IV " engine the maximum speed is about 145 m.p.h. and the cruising speed 125 m.p.h. The machine may be sup- plied with tankage for a range of either 550 mi]es or 750 miles. For a thick-winged cantilever monoplane the " Gull " must be considered a very manoeuvrable aeroplane. We have not yet done any aerobatics in it, but in the hands of Capt. Percival it appears to loop beautifully. Capt. Percival expects that the price of the " Gipsy Six " model will be between £1,575 and £1,580. SITTING PRETTY : The 1934 Percival " Gull." Note, in this view, the neat installation of the tail wheel. (FLIGHT Photo.) THE ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA AIR RACE CURTHER to our paragraph last week regarding the1 National Aeronautic Association of the U.S.A. and the England-Australia Air Race, the following statement as to the intention underlying Part A, Rule V of the conditions has been issued by the Royal Aero Club. In stipulating that each aircraft shall conform " substantially " to the minimum airworthiness requirements of the I.C.A.N. normal category, it is intended that all competing aircraft shall comply strictly with all major requirements affecting airworthiness and safety, such as main load factors and take-off requirements, the certifying authorities being left a discretionary latitude as to exact compliance with minor requirements. For the guidance of manufacturers and competitors it is pointed out that the responsibility for issuing the necessary certificates of compliance under this Rule rests with the respective certifying authorities. The Royal Aero Club also announces the route that has been fixed for the Handicap section of the race; this is as. follows: London, Marseilles, Rome, Athens, Aleppo, Baghdad, Bushire, Karachi, Jodhpur, Allahabad, Calcutta, Rangoon, Bangkok, Alor Star, Singapore, Batavia Rambang, Koepang, Darwin, Newcastle Waters, Cloncurry, Charleville, Narromine, and Melbourne. The route for the speed race is still as previously announced, viz.: London, Baghdad, Allahabad, Singapore, Darwin, Charleville, and Melbourne. 412
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