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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 0899.PDF
APRIL 18, 1935- FLIGHT. 435 MODELS >~ The American Fashion : An Efficient High-wing Mono plane : Miniature Sky writing This Northrop flying scale model has a span of 22 in. SUPER-REALISM AS everybody who has studied America's popular aviation magazines knows, scarcely does a single new type of aeroplane appear than the model market is flooded with the appropriate scale drawings and construe tional kits for building flying scale models. These drawings have recently become popular in England, and the realistic model shown in the heading is made from a set of them. The machine will be recognised as the new Northrop FTl, which was described in Flight of February 7. Of balsa construction throughout, the model has a wing-span of 22m., and weighs 2| ounces. Its construction includes one or two interesting ideas. The fuselage is built up on the "keel" system, i.e., the bulkheads are first assembled on two "keels," top and bottom, which are cut to follow the shape of fuselage. The stringers, of which there are a considerable number, are then assembled round the bulkheads, fitting into small, square slots. The rubber motor is housed in a hollow, square-section spar which is attached to the engine cowling, which may be re moved, bringing the spar with it for inspection of the rubber. When in position the Spar'rests in square sections cut out of each bulkhead. The model is finished in aluminium with the usual American insignia, and has been built by Mr. E. Ross for Hamley's, of Regent Street, London, as a show model. Two test flights of 20 sec. duration were made. THE BROWN MONOPLANE SEVERAL interesting—although, perhaps, not particularly startling-—features are embodied in the monoplane de signed and constructed by Mr. I. G. O. Brown, of No. 10 Group (Wimbledon), T.M.A.C, and illustrated in the sketch below. It is a very successful model, and has been a regular and consistent performer at many flying meetings, giving equally happy results either in the hands of its designer or when loaned to "outsiders." Perhaps the first characteristic that claims attention is the somewhat unusual shape of the fuselage, which is of rectangular section for the forward half, and thence triangular to the tail. There is thus a certain saving in weight for the rear portion of the fuselage, and this method of construction is certainly very strong and rigid. The fuselage is built up of spruce longerons and alder bulk heads, and isicdvered with one piece of fabric, aluminium- doped. The wings, which have balsa ribs of fairly thick section, are built up as a single unit, with a dihedral angle of about 5 deg, and a. slight back -sweep on the leading edge. Flights of two minutes' duration have been made by Mr. 1 G. O. Brown's monoplane Tail and fin are built up separately, oi 2og. wire, the lormer having a certain amount of lift and a slight dihedral angle. The undercarriage, of the spring rocker type, is fitted with celluloid-cum-balsa wheels on ebonite bearings. The rubber motor is geared and consists of two skeins of six strands of £in. elastic; four strands of the same elastic have also been employed successfully. The airscrew, which is I2|in. dia meter, is not only set to give a slight downward thrust, but is also set to pull to the right, to counteract torque. Principal characteristics are: — Span, 40in. ; chord, 5J-4|in. ; overall length, 28 Jin. : dihe'hal, 5 deg. ; weight, (H oz. ; duration, 60-120 sec. SKY-WRITING AT most model aircraft rallies, especially when the general public are admitted, something spectacular is usually in demand, and here is an idea that is a distinct change from parachute dropping. Mr. L. J. Hodson, of Windsor M.A.C., has evolved a simple and efficient method of laying a heavy smoke trail from a model in flight. The " business end " of the apparatus is a cartridge made of two ift. lengths of 35 mm. cinematograph film placed edge to edge (not end to end), laid on a strip of paper, and rolled up in it to form a cartridge slightly underpin, in dia meter, a tew extra turns of paper being given to form a case. One end of the cartridge is then tucked in, so that it is more or less airtight, and the other trimmed off level with the edge of the film. Unfortunately we have not the space to describe Mr. Hodson's drilled strip aluminium carrier which slings this cartridge about half-an-inch below the fuselage, but experimenters should easily be able to make their own; two important features are a flame shield, about tin. square, above the vent end of the cartridge carrier, and a metal disc at the forward end to prevent the front of the cartridge blowing out. Having the model ready for flight, the procedure is to light the cartridge, wait until it is well alight, and then blow it out, when the celluloid will emit dense vapour, which will con tinue for some thirty seconds, BRITISH CHALLENGERS AT Fairey's Great West Road Aerqdropjje, on Easter Monday, the S.M.A.E is to hold its eliminating1 trials to select a British team of six models for the International Moffett Trophy competition in America. The trials will begin at 3 p.m. The American event is to take place at St. Louis on June zt). THE WAKEFIELD CUP RULES for the International Wakefield Cup Competition, to be flown at Fairey's Aerodrome on Monday, August 5. are now available, and may be obtained from the competition secretary of the S.M.A.E.", Mr B. K. Johnson, 58, Norton Road, Wembley, Middlesex Duration averaged over three flights will be the deciding factor, and all models must Tse R.O.G. There is no entry fee for members of the S.M.A.E. or affiliated clubs; for others the fee is 2s. 6d. THE WINNER T the recent Skybi^d League Rally, the Flight prize was presented to Mr. the D.H. " Comet.' M J. Frisby (Club 150) for a model ot
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