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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 0673.PDF
MARCH 18, 1937- FLIGHT. 253 BRITISH LIGHT One- to Five - seater j Types Among a Score \ I of Makes to Fill \ \ Every Need of the j I Club Pilot and Private j Owner Aeronca PROBABLY the first machine to be made which provided really serious flying for two people on a comparatively low horse-power, the Aeronca is now in production in this country. Apart altogether from the service which large numbers of these machines have given, on wheels, skis and floats, on the other side of the Atlantic, Mr. Llewellyn's flight to Johannesburg more than a year ago proved that the machine is far from being a plaything. As in the case of all low-powered machines, some allowance must be made, but once the particular technique is understood, machines like the Aeronca can be made to do practic ally everything which was done by more powerful light aeroplanes in the earlier days of the movement. In the form in which it is being pro duced over here, the Aeronca is a side- by-side 2-seater high-wing wire-braced cabin monoplane of mixed construction. The fuselage is of welded-steel tube and the wing is of wood. Since the two occu pants sit together more or less at the centre of gravity the controls are simpli fied by the -omission of an unnecessary tail-trimming device, and a single central throttle can be reached from either seat. The machine is, of course, normally flown from the left side, but full dual is arranged, and a number of Aeroncas are already being used for in expensive instructional purposes. The view in all essential directions is reason ably good, and it is possible to open either of the side panels if the screen is obscured in rain. Light luggage can be accommodated in a light locker at the rear of the cabin. One or two new developments in a rather different class are likely to make Tli wo-seater Aeronca monoplane, which is now being built in this country. Flight photograph.) their appearance after the production of this machine has proceeded apace. The specification of the Aeronca is as follows: Span, 36 ft.; length, 20 ft.; weight empty, 629 lb.; disposable load, 437 lb.; maximum speed, 95 m.p.h.; cruising' speed, 87 m.p.h.; landing speed, 33 m.p.h.; initial climb, 450 ft./min.; range, 305 miles; price, £i95- Makers: The Aeronautical Corpora tion of Great Britain, Ltd., Walton Works, Peterborough. Autogiro DURING the past year the develop ment of the Autogiro moved forward yet another step when the " direct-start " type, on which experiments have been carried out over a long period, made its first public appearance. Attention was largely directed to the little Weir single- seater (described elsewhere under the ' Experimental " heading), but one of the C.30 machines was also modified and gave a very good account of itself. To the Cierva Autogiro Co., each new type is, however, considered only as an other move towards a clearly defined goal, and for the moment the well-known C.30 type can be considered as the stan dard version of the Autogiro. It con tinues to do good work, and is perform ance is, in many respects, considerably superior to that of the normal fixed-wing aeroplane. Height, for instance, can be maintained at a speed as low as 15 m.p.h., and the landing is made at 5 m.p.h., or less. Autogiro flying requires a certain special technique, and training can be obtained at Hanworth and at one or more schools elsewhere. In general, however, this technique can be picked up by the fixed-wing pilot in three hours' flying or so. The main differences concern the necessary sequence of actions before the take-off, and the
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