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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 1670.PDF
JUNE 25, 1936 FLIGHT. fire more accurately at the high speeds which are attain able) and certain other refinements. The engine is a composite! y cooled 600 h.p. Kestrel V. The following notes on the light-bomber class apply equally to the Hart and Hind. Racks are provided beneath the lower wings for the bombs, which, on typical loadings, might be four 112 lb. or two 250 lb. projectiles. Controls for their fusing and release are fitted in both cockpits. Three Varieties of bombing attack are normally practised by squadrons equipped with light bombers, these being known as "dive," "precision" and "low." Dive bomb ing is usually done, under good conditions, from about i2,ooo|tl off an echelon formation, each machine half- rolliiig out of the line and diving at its target. The bombs are released during the pull-out at about z,oooft., when the speed is well over 300 m.p.h. Precision bombing is done from high altitudes, frequently by formations. The low attack is,made at high speed near the ground with small bombs, no sights being used. The armament (excluding bomb load) of the light bomber and general-purpose machines, in fact, of any Service two- seater, is one or two fixed Vickers' guns for the pilot (normally all these aircraft, barring the Demon fighter, have only one) and a Lewis gun over the rear cockpit. Two-way wireless can be carried on the majority of the machines, and there is provision for oxygen apparatus. The Agile Overstrand Now for the medium bombers. Only one pattern is in service at the present time, and that equips only one squadron. The machine and unit are, respectively, the Boulton-Paul Overstrand and No. 101 (B.) Squadron. In the not-far-distant future we are likely to see a generous proportion of our bombing force equipped with aircraft in the "medium" category. In the matter of range and bomb load this class comes between the light and the The Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bomber, with 590 h.p. Pegasus II M, is used for coastal defence. This view (left) of the Avro Anson, now being issued to general reconnaissance shows such features as bomb traps, retractable undercarriage and the generally clean design. heavy types, but do not be surprised to find a " medium " with a longer range and greater carrying capacity than one of the '' heavy '' types ; the explanation will probably be that there is a considerable difference between the dates of their construction, for load and range are continually on the increase. The Overstrand is very popular among pilots because, for a machine of its size, it has quite extraordinary powers of manoeuvre. Watch it in the combat with three Fury single-seaters on Saturday. Examination (should it taxi close enough) will reveal that it is a biplane with two radial engines set on the lower wings. These are Bristol Pegasus II Ms, moderately super charged to give 590 h.p. at 5,000ft. The Overstrand carries a crew of three, including the pilot, who has no gun, and yet is provided with three gun positions. The answer is that the two rear guns (one in a sheltered spot on top of the fuselage aft of the wings and the other in a tunnel below) are alternatives. In the tunnel the gunner lies flat on his stomach and guards against attack from below. But the most notable of the three gun positions is that in the extreme nose. This one takes the form of a transparent power-driven turret containing the gunner, who controls its rotation simply by moving his gun. New " Mediums " To see something really modern in the medium bomber line it is necessary to turn to the new and. experimental types park. Here are (or should be if there are no hitches) four superb examples made by the Bristol, Vickers, Fairey and Handley Page concerns. The Vickers is dealt with in the report of its manufacturers' demonstration on p. 689. , The Bristol Blenheim will interest many people because it has been developed from the monoplane Britain First purchased by Lord Rothermere. Its history follows. Lord Rothermere required a very fast commercial aero plane which would show foreign manufacturers the capa bilities of a British machine in this class. So he ordered a variation of a Bristol transport machine designed for two Aquila sleeve-valve engines of about 500 h.p. each, fitting it with two Mercury VTS's giving a maximum of 645 h.p. at 15,500 ft. The result was astounding. A speed of over 260 m.p.h. is said to have been attained. So outstanding was the machine, in fact, that the R.A.F. coveted it, fore-
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