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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 0747.PDF
MARCH 18, 1937. FLIGHT. 289 AN INTRIGUING TWO-SEATER Untrammelled Design by Mr. L. E. Baynes : Flat " Buried" Engines and Pusher Airscrews Feature in the Bee Monoplane TWIN-ENGINED security, pusher airscrews, ample performance and vision and non-acrobatic entry and exit are desiderata generally acknowledged by regular users of private aircraft. Singly, each of these qualities has at one time or another characterised some British light aeroplane, but the incorporation of them all, without the sacrifice of one or more of their number, is a task demanding much originality of thought and ingenuity of design. Mr. L. E. Baynes seems to have made a very stout effort toward the efficient embodiment of all these properties ill a side-by-side two-seater monoplane which has been christened the Baynes Bee. Until Capt. Hubert Broad has got well into his tests of the prototype it would be premature to discuss the machine's flying characteristics, but he is said to be quite enthusiastic. In general the Bee is a side-by-side two-seater high-wing monoplane with two 40 h.p. Carden-Baynes pusher engines mounted within the wing. Spruce and three-ply are mainly used for the wing and fuselage, both of which components embody a number of un orthodox features. The cantilever wing, tail plane and fin are each built round what are virtually two parallel spars with laminated webs on one side only, being joined by diaphragms or bulkheads and covered on top and bottom with ply sheeting. Thus the whole forms a substantial box beam with square booms at each corner. For this method of construction Mr. Baynes claims exceptional cheapness as compared with more conventional two-spar wings with ply covering to take the torsional bracing. He gives two main reasons: the booms of the spars do not require a bevelled outer surface changing along the span, and,.as the front and rear sides of the beam are parallel, the square ply sheets on top and bottom are easier to apply than is the curved and tapered ply covering of more normal wing designs. The similarity of the spars also makes for ease of production. The desired profile is provided by ribs slipped over the main beam and covered with fabric. The air space between the fabric and the ply is claimed to benefit the durability of the ply under "severe climatic conditions and to facilitate maintenance. Attachment of the wing to the fuse lage is made at three points, the with drawal of pins at the two front joints allowing the wing to swivel round the third joint into a fore-and-aft position over the fuselage. For steadying pur poses two light-allov turntable rings are fitted, one to the under surface of the wing and the other to the top of the fuselage. A straightforward plywood box with flat sides, the top being faired with a fabric-covered hinged coaming, the fuse lage extends to the rear edge of the rudder to facilitate ground handling. Forward of the wing is the cabin, which has a large door on each side and is amply provided with Rhodoid panels. Entry and exit are as easy as, and out look much better than, from a typical saloon car. Over the C.G., behind the side-by-side seats, is a luggage compart ment measuring 3ft. Sin. by 2ft. 3111. by ift. 3in., giving a capacity of over ten The main features of the Carden- Baynes S.P.i engines and of their installation in the wing of the Bee are revealed in this sketch. The air screw extension shafts are integral with the engines.
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