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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0912.PDF
914 FLIGHT. SEPTEMBER 6, 1934. THE FIGHTING "PTERODACTYL" Coupled with a very wide speed-range, the latest Westland Machine has an exceptionally wide Field of Fire By C. M. POULSEN WHEN Capt. G. T. R. Hill first conceived the idea ofthe "tailless" aeroplane, his main objective wasan aerodynamic rather than a military one. He, like most of us at the time, was distressed at the thought of the number of accidents, mostly fatal, which were resulting from stalls followed by spins. His first machine appeared in 1926, and was driven by a Bristol "Cherub" engine, a small flat twin air-cooled of some 30 h.p. Since those early days Capt. Hill has worked away quietly at the task of developing and perfecting the '' tail- less " principle. Some years ago he joined the Westland Aircraft Works at Yeovil, and with that move fresh im- petus was given to the development programme. Several types of " Pterodactyl " have made their appearance, and one or two have appeared at Royal Air Force Displays at Hendon. It was somewhat unfortunate that they were always included among unorthodox aircraft. The result was that in the mind of the general public such machines as the Handley-Page " Gugnunc," the Cierva " Autogiro," and the Hill "Pterodactyl," came to be regarded as jokes, as something introduced to give "comic relief." Actually, all three types have their very serious purpose, and each of the three marks a contribution to the general endeavour towards better and safer aircraft. The Westland-Hill " Pterodactyl " series has reached the Mark V stage. In Flight of August 16 we published the first photograph to be released of this machine, a two- seater fighter fitted with the 700 h.p. Rolls-Royce " Gos- hawk" steam-cooled engine. Previous to the introduction of this new military type, the most powerful '' Ptero- dactyl " built had the 120 h.p. " Gipsy Three " engine. It will thus be seen that in going from this to the Mark V a very bold step was taken. A visit to the Westland works at Yeovil last week for the purpose of witnessinj test flights indicated that the courage of the designer and constructors appears to have been rewarded with success. The new machine handles well, both on the ground and in the air; and, although performance figures may not bs quoted, it was obvious that the speed range of the '' Ptero- dactyl V " is very great. The machine is of so unusual appearance that it is a matter of some difficulty to judge its speed, but there could be no doubt whatever that its landing speed was very low, while the top speed appeared to be nearly the same as that of comparable types of orthodox design. With the behaviour of earlier '' Pterodactyls '' in mind I must confess that I went to Yeovil last week with a cer- tain feeling of uneasiness when I thought of the ground performance. The short wheelbase of a " tailless " machine is apt to make taxying a somewhat precarious proceed- ing. In the latest version we have a military machine of very high power and considerably greater weight than any '' Pterodactyl'' hitherto built, and if it is to be of any practical use such a machine must be able to operate from any makeshift aerodrome which war conditions will im- A fairly strong wind was blowing when the machine EX CATHEDRA : Capt. G. T. R. Hill explains the features of the new "Pterodactyl V." Notethe balanced wing flaps and the auto slots. The rudders move outwards only. [Flight Photo.)
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