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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 1616.PDF
724 FLIGHT, JUNE 27, 1935. There is a distinct family resemblance between the Vickers-Supermarine " Scapa " and the " Stranraer " or R.24/31 (top left and right). The " Scapa " uses a pair of 525 h.p. " Kestrels " whereas the " Stranraer," a larger boat, is fitted with 690 h.p. " Pegasus Ills." The Saro " London " (two " Pegasus HI ") (bottom left) was built to the same specification as the " Stranraer." The " Cloud," another Saro product (bottom right) is an amphibian used for navigational training. Flight photographs) Designed to the same specification as the Short '' Knuckle duster," the Vickers-Supermarine "Stranraer," as this R.24/31 is named, is a biplane with the engines mounted, as in the "Scapa," close under the top plane. The engines of this machine are Bristol "Pegasus" medium supercharged. The pilots' cockpit is totally enclosed. During very extensive trials the machine was found easily able to maintain level flight with one engine stopped, the other engine showing no signs of overheating. It is claimed that in speed, climb, ceiling and take-off the "Stranraer" is unequalled by any other British flying boat. The " Stranraer" is designed to operate as a completely self-contained unit, with comfortable working and living quarters for the crew. In spite of this there has been no sacri fice in performance or military qualities, while the seaworthi ness has been demonstrated during trials under gale conditions. The placing of the engines under the top plane helps to keep the airscrews clear of spray. The Saro " London " flying boat is the latest of a " family " of boats produced by Saunders-Roe, Ltd. Substantial orders are now in hand for the R.A.F., and the first production machines will be coming along shortly. It is an unequal-span biplane, with two Bristol "Pegasus" engines mounted close under the top plane. The hull is of the fiat-sided type, with longitudinal corrugations in the skin. With a tare weight of 11,100 lb., the normal gross weight of the "London" is 18,300 lb., but this can be increased to an overload gross weight of 22,000 lb. The maximum speed is 135 m.p.h. at 6,500 ft. and the normal range 1,100 miles at 115 m.p.h. With extra petrol the range can be increased to 1,740 miles. A smaller Saro flying boat is the "Cloud," a twin-engined monoplane with two 340 h.p. Siddeley " Serval" engines. The machine, which is used for flying and navigational train ing, is an amphibian, with a tare weight of 6,250 lb. and a gross weight of 9,200 lb. The wing area is 650 sq. ft. and the maximum speed 118 m.p.h. •fir- A Plea from Portugal ON June 10 the Graf Zeppelin was diverted from her normal course .from South America and passed over Cintra and Lisbon. At Cintra (where people had been waiting to see the airship since 8 a.m. and she arrived just after 7 p.m.) she dropped her mail by parachute. It was picked up by a waiting Heinkel He7o and hurried off to Seville, there to resume its normal route to Germany. The Graf Zeppelin circled slowly over Lisbon at 400 feet, and the scenes in the busy streets (it was the middle of the Lisbon Festivals) were indescribable. Our Lisbon Correspon dent comments: What propaganda ! What advertisement! What showmanship 1 When will British constructors learn to do similar things? It is true that the Germans will never, in our time, sell any airships to Portugal. Nor is it likely that any H.P. 42 aircraft will ever find a market in this country. But why—oh why!—do not the British make a bit of a noise? It would be so easy for the Air Ministry to send out a flight of " Bulldogs " or " Gauntlets " to take part in a show; but they never do. If Lufthansa can spare a Junkers Ju. 52-3m, and the Heinkel He7o can come here, and the Spanish Aerial Postal Services can send a Douglas D.C.2 (as was done at the recent Lisbon Display), why can not somebody in Britain manage to send aircraft to demon strate British aeronautical progress ? True, there was an Airspeed " Envoy " at this Display, but no flying demonstra tion was given. Next Week's Issue of fj.|OHT TO-DAY'S special issue of Flight contains information that is indispensable to the Hendon Display Visitor and forms a souvenir that will be of immense value to all who are interested in the work and equipment of the Royal Air Force. Next week's special issue (Thursday, July 4) will be of equal yet contrasting interest, for it will contain detailed reports, illustrated by many Flight photographs, of the R.A.F. Display and the Display (to which the public is not admitted) to be held by the Society of British Aircraft Constructors on Monday. It will prove of particular value to those unable to visit the displays, and both to-day's and next week's special numbers will form useful works of reference.
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