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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 1094.PDF
APRIL 30, 1936. FLIGHT. 453 The Outlooks Cowling and Cooling r HE review of aero engine cowling and cooling which appeared in Flight of April 16, and which is con tinued this week, draws attention to the very re markable progress which has been made in recent years in securing adequate cooling of air-cooled engines without introducing extra drag; in fact, modern engine cowls have been developed which reduce the cooling drag to a very small percentage of the horse-power. The subject is of interest in showing how difficulties arising out of improve ments in one direction are, in time, overcome by develop ments in another direction. The old rotary engine scored by the very smooth run ning which resulted from the pronounced flywheel effect of its rotating parts, but it suffered from many disadvan tages, one of these being the large percentage of power absorbed in whirling the crank case and cylinders around. There was an obvious limit to the size it was possible to make a rotary, and the stationary radial came along to replace it. Early radials were somewhat feeble, and of teething troubles they had their share. In time, however, the radial triumphed, and it has now been developed to a degree of perfection which not even its staunchest advocates could have foreseen in the beginning. For a time the radial was reproached with its high drag. Modern cowling methods have reduced' the drag to a very low figure, and at the same time the introduction of controlled cooling has ensured sufficient cooling during the climb without excessive drag at high speed in level flight. In fact, Dr. Douglas pointed out, in a lecture to the R.Ae.S. last year, that it was conceivable that on very fast aircraft the cooling air could be made to add to the propulsive force instead of to the drag. That ideal has not yet been reached, but great progress has been made. In this connection it S worth remembering that, although cooling drag may be reduced almost to vanishing point, form drag still remains with us, so that the small engine and the engine of low frontal area is still very much to be desired. The Noise Nuisance C OMPLAINTS about the noise of aeroplanes are nothing new, and lately the Anti-Noise League has been in communication with the Air Ministry on the sub ject. Complaints from hospitals and sick persons are one n'ng; such complaints deserve the utmost sympathy, and wherever possible steps are taken to save the sufferers jora the nuisance. In most other cases it is hard to avoid a ^co"clus'on that many of the objectors are unduly fussy, : to the noise of aeroplanes simply because aero-plan s are new faiigled things of which they have not yet gw to approve. The'noise in the neighbourhood of a sy airport is not so objectionable as the noise of a rail- Lond "' and yet the vicinities of al* the big stations in hous «"' Birmingham, and other towns are thronged with Kro» b noise there is an old noise, and people have outsid.7haCCUSt°med t0 [t- The clanki»g of a tramline one w^ in- front *oor would be far more nerve-racking, rnusicn'l11, imagine, than the occasional, or era frequent, other , "u an aero engine ; but the one is old and the houses 7 W the dwellers m "ribbon-development" Passing f8 an arterial road can support the incessant life but m,°tor cars is °ne of the mysteries of modern Gilders h nouses are usually snapped up before the %t the d°ne with them- °ne can onIy conclude reason of the outcry against the noise of aero planes is its novelty, and, if that is so, time will provide a fairly speedy solution of the problem. Unnecessary low flying over populous areas is a crime, and for other reasons than the noise it must be, and will be, stamped out. But to the noise of legitimate flying the next generation will have grown up quite indifferent. The City's Airport r HOUGH the final decision is not known at the time of writing, the scheme for building a City of London Airport at Fairiop, near Ilford, Essex, seems to have been examined pretty thoroughly since the public inquiry held last August by the Ministry of Health, when the relative merits of the site as a housing estate and as an aerodrome were discussed. The cost is estimated at ^600,000, which, spread as a loan over sixty years, would represent less than a penny rate for the City. Technically, the site has some sound claims, notably on the score of its level nature and good approaches. From the meteorological aspect, there is less to recommend it, for, with the prevailing south-west wind, it will spend much of the year under London's smoke pall; the Air Ministry, however, does not con sider this sufficient to outweigh the advantages. Most important of all, perhaps, is the question of access. It is said that the London Passenger Transport Board has schemes by which tube rail ways will serve the new airport. This is admirable —provided that the traffic will be handled in such a manner that strangers just landed from afar do not find themselves and their luggage swept in " Hammersmith all stations '' trains into the maelstrom of the City rush- hour. In view of the newest raids on the Road Fund one cannot view with any great enthusiasm the prospect of the alternative route^—the thirteen-odd miles by road to the West End. The road to Croydon Airport is an autostrada compared with the tram-infested, cobble- stoned via dolorosa which straggles interminably out to Ilford ; nor are the alternative routes to this part of the world much better. Returning Hospitality A MONG the 500 or so private owners of aircraft in this f\ country there can be few who have not, at some time or other, enjoyed the most charming hospitality from other private owners when touring abroad. In many cases the friendliness and assistance have been almost embarras sing when one realised that opportunities to reciprocate were few and far between. Private owners are reminded that such an opportunity now occurs in connection with the "Week-end Aerien," which the Royal Aero Club is planning for July 23-25. More than 250 private owners, representing seventeen countries, have been invited, and it is the intention that the foreign guests should incur no expense whatever during their stay in England. The ar rangements are in the hands of a Private Owners and Hospitality Committee appointed by the Royal Aero Club, and it is estimated that a sum of appioximately ^2,500 will be required. 'It is hoped to make the Week-end Aerien the greatest gathering of European owner-pilots ever held, and British private owners will certainly welcome this opportunity to assist in entertaining foreign visitors, among whom they will doubtless find many old friends and meet many new. Contributions should be sent to the Secretary of the Royal Aero Club.
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