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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 1415.PDF
MAY 27, 1937. FLIGHT. 53t Private Flying PRACTICAL FELINITY Flying a More Powerful Version of the Dart Kitten : Useful Performance SOME time ago (in the issue of February 18, to be exact) the prototype Dart Kitten was described and its handling qualities re marked upon. Rightly or wrongly I felt then that the Kitten would be improved if there was another 10 h.p. or so to draw upon—particu larly for the take-off and climb. The word underpowered'' has no real meaning except in relation to wing and power loadings, and as a flying machine the Kitten performed admirably. It was merely my opinion that a little more power would be a good thing, since I felt rather that the machine, otherwise excellent, appeared to fall between two stools in the ultra-light market. Thoroughly strong, sound and easy to fly, the 27 h.p. Kitten, I felt, could not safely be used for small-field flying, and yet was not quite fast enough to be useful for aerodrome-to-aero drome travels. Half-an-hour's flying in the new Aeronca-J.A.P.-engined version has, if anything, hardened that impression, though I was unjusi enough to refuse an invitation to go up again in Kitten I. Perhaps I felt that I might be forced to recant. Even with an airscrew which did not permit the engine to glive its maximum revolutions, the take-off was as short, even in an almost flat calm, as anyone could wish, the climb was of the 700-a-minute order, and the maximum speed appeared to be a little short of 90 m.p.h. The Kitten, because it is extremely strong, is quite heavy for its type, and it felt as if the power was just right for safe and useful operations over the countryside. Allowing for an average wind speed over the year of 15-20 m.p.h., a cruising speed of something in the region of 80 m.p.h. means that a machine can get about. Though not quite as smooth as the Ava engine, which is a flat-four two-stroke, the J.A.P. can only be felt at full throttle and at certain small openings when the mixture is distinctlv "off." This latest version incorporates some modifications which are the result of extended experience with the prototype. The screen, for instance, has been extended rearwards, so that it is now quite unnecessary to wear goggles, and the little rear locker can be reached from the outside. The spring-loaded trimming lever, too, is now on the left and not at the base of the stick, and larger wheels are fitted to the cantilever The new engine has been very neatly installed in the Kitten as this Flight photograph of its nose shows undercarriage legs. When I flew this new machine the under carriage was distinctlv stiff, a fact which made ground travel somewhat uncomfortable. The only other criticism which I have to make concerns one of the controls and is a point which can very easily be modified. All the controls are, in fact, pleasant and powerful. The rudder, however, which one seldom uses, gives one the impression of being slightly over balanced and the effect is exaggerated by the method of opera tion, which is "one way" only, springs being used to hold the control cables in tension. Stronger springs and a little less balanced area for the rudder would probably make all the difference. When I flew the machine the A.S.I, was giving some very doubtful indications at the lower end of the scale and I brought the Kitten in at a speed which felt right, there being plenty of control, though by aural indications alone one would have said that the glide was being made too slowly. Even so, the hold-off was considerably prolonged. The Kitten's stall is almost completely innocuous and it would be quite safe to bring it into a small aerodrome at a speed only a few m.p.h. above that at which the pre-stall sink becomes evident. For such an approach, however, accurate indications are essential. It seems that we shall eventually see the pitot heads of all slow-landing machines mounted on a five-foot extension above and ahead of the leading edge ! . H. A. T. FROM the CLUBS and SCHOOLS LONDON T HE flying time at Hatfield during last week was 123 hr. 15 min. Messrs. B. Cartwright, P. M. B. Lucas and R. I. Hallows made their first solos and Mr. D. G. Hutton completed the tests for his " A " licence. New members are Messrs. C. R. G. Grant and H. D. Raynham. YORKSHIRE Flying on Yorkshire Aeroplane Club machines for last week totalled 63 hr. 30 min. The weather was good at Whitsun and a good deal of joyriding was done at Yeadon, the joyriders them selves being drawn from the ranks of the spectators. The aero drome will be open to the public on May 29, Empire Air Day. On the following day the film " R.A.F." will be shown to members. WITNEY AND OXFORD Flying hours for the week ended May 22 totalled (twenty at Wit ney. Messrs. R. G. Secretan and P. W. M. Mallorie have passed their " A " tests. First solos were made by Messrs. E. D. Nicol, B. T. O'Reilly, and J. E. Mansfield. Mr. G. R. Beale-Browne, who has an " A," is now working for his " B." Club machines visited Cardiff for the Coronation Rally on May 15, and one was fortunate enough to win third prize, value £25, in the arrival competition. DONC ASTER The Doncaster Aero Club machines put in a total of 27 hr. 35 rain. for fortnight ended May 19. One first solo was made by Mr. W. Pyrah. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Flying hours at Sywell are steadily increasing with the longer flying days. New members include the Hon. A. Verney Cave, Mrs. L. Wood, Mrs. Paterson and Mr. D. B. La Hive, who have joined as flying members. Miss Bridget Benson has passed her " A " tests. The aerodrome will be open to the public on Empire Air Day and it is expected a number of Service machines will be on view. HAMPSHIRE Three Club Moths flew to Cardiff on May 15, to compete in the arrival competition. None were fortunate, but Mr. C. R. Curtis Nuthall won the competition at Portsmouth on May 19. Mr. R. J. Rerrie qualified for his " A " licence and Mr. J. A. Duff has made has first solo. An old-timer returned to flying is Capt. F. Warren Merriam, A.F.C., who recently made his " first" solo in a Club Moth. If may be recalled that he taught many famous people to fly at Brooklands from 1911 onwards. On May 20 the Leopard was busy all day taking people over and round the Fleet.
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