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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0828.PDF
830 FLIGHT. . AUGUST 16, 1934. THE ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA RACE Descriptions and Illustrations of Lockheed "Altair, ....... Wiley Post and the "Winnie Mae" : The" "Orion" and Irish Swoop" Vega ENTRIES have been made oi eight Lockheed aircraft—two"Altairs," four "Orions," and two "Vegas," for theMacRobertson England-Australia Race. Although Lock- heeds are of American manufacture, two of these entries are from Australia and one from France. The machines will, of course, differ considerably in matters of equipment and tankage, but the following description, which applies to the standard types as at present being produced, should prove of interest to a large section of those people interested in the great race. In the case of all these three Lockheed types the fuselage is a semi-monocoque structure with spruce plywood "shell" reinforced transversely with laminated diaphragms at an average spacing of 22in., and reinforced longitudinally with spruce compression members and nickel steel tierods. Although the " Orion " and " Altair" are low-wing monoplanes and the "Vega" is a high-wing type, the structure of all three wings is similar. The wing is an all-spruce cantilever plywood- covered structure tapered both in plan and section. Spars are of the spruce box type. There is no external rigging, and the machine is trimmed by the bending up or down of " tabs " on the trailing edge of the ailerons. Tail surfaces are of similar construction, the fin being adjustable on the ground. Both the "Orion " and the " Altair" have retractable under- carriages of a similar type. This uses a combined hydraulic and cable-operating mechanism, the retraction of,the wheels involv- ing an inward, rearward and upward movement. When fully hoisted or extended the gear locks automatically. Approxi- mately forty seconds are required for hoisting operation, and the gear may be extended in about nine seconds. The gear extends nearly its full travel by its own weight, only a few strokes of the pump being necessary to complete the action A safety signal is connected to the throttle which rings an electric bell if the landing gear is not fully down when the throttle is retarded to 800 r.p.m. •••••:•'•: ...-. .a- -'v .••-- Engines Most of the Lockheed "Altairs," "Orions," and "Vegas" use the Pratt and Whitney "Wasp" engine, although the Wright "Cyclone" has been fitted to some "Orions." The "Wasp" engines used are usually supercharged, being either SIDI'S rated at 550 h.p. at 2,200 r.p.m. at 5,000ft., or SCi's rated at 450 h.p. at 2,100 r.p.m. at 6,000ft. This latter engine uses fuel of 80 octane value, has a compression ratio of 5J : 1 and a blower ratio of 7:1. The S1D1 uses the same fuel and has the same blower ratio, but has a compression ratio of 6: 1. With standard equipment the "Wasp" engine weighs about b . ; - 5 Michel Detroyat is fitting a Hispano-Suiza engine in his " Orion." This is a Wright " Cyclone " built under licence by the Hispano-Suiza Co. In every case an N.A.C.A. cowling is used, and most of the competitors will use variable pitch airscrews. 240 M.P.H. : Kingsford - Smith's "Altair" Anzac ("Wasp" S1D1), and below, G.A. drawing of the single-seater " Altair." Wiley Post Supercharges Winnie Mae, Wiley Post's historic Lockheed "Vega" of " round-the-world" fame, has been extensively modified for use in the race, and for an attempt on the altitude record. Powered with a "Wasp C " engine developing 420 h.p. at sea DATA OF STANDARD LOCKHEED TYPES. •AKair" 8E. " Orion " 9D. •Vega." ENGINE POWER SPAN LENGTH WING AREA WEIGHT EMPTY ... GROSS WEIGHT ... WING LOADING ... MAXIMUM SPEED... CRUISING SPEED .. LANDING, SPEED ... SERVICE CEILING... CRUISING RANGE... P. and W. " Wasp " S1D1 550 h.p. at 2,200 r.p.m. at 5,000 ft (1 524 m) 42ft. 91 in. (13,03m) ... „,.• „,,, . 27 ft. 10 in. (8,4 m) ... .;.£;.. 294.1 sq. ft. (27,3m1) ... ... .... ... 3,297 !b. (149&kg) 5,800 Ib. (2 630 kg) .. ... ,„. 19.72 Ib./sq. ft. (9 64 kglm*> '„."" 1.. 230 tn.p.h. (370 kmlhr) 205 m.p.h. [330 Km I hr) 63 m.p.h. (101 kmlhr) ... .. 22,OOOft. (6720m) ... » 1,025 miles (1 650 km) P. and W. " Wasp " S1D1 550 h.p. at 2,200 r.p.m. at 5,000 ft. (1 524 m) 42 ft. 9i in. 13,03 m) „ _. 28 ft. 4 in. (8,64 m) .. "... '..-• .. 294.1 sq.ft. (27,3 m!i 3,640 1b. (1650 k°) ... 5,8001b. (2630kg) 19.72 Ib./sq. ft. (9,64 kgjm") 225 m.p.h. (363 kmlhr) 205 m.p.h. (330 kmlhr, 63 m.p.h. (101 km/hr) ... .... 22,000ft. (6720m) ' 720 miles (1160 km) ' . P. and W. "Wasp" SCI 450 h.p. at 2,100 r.p.m. at 6,001) ft. (1 829 ml 41 ft. (72,-5 m) 27 ft. 6 in. (8,38 m) 279.1 sq. ft. (25,9 m'| 2,725 lb. (1 236 kg) - " 4,7501b. (2 146 kg) ' ^_ 17.02 Ib./sq. ft. (S,,5*g/m"| 195 m.p.h. (312 kmlhr) 170 m.p.h. (272 kmlhr) ' <• 60 m.p.h. (96 kmlhr) W.OOOft. (5 490 m) . :. 550 miles (880 km)
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