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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 0298.PDF
102 FLIGHT. FEBRUARY 3, 1938. is allowed to drop too far is a momentary dropping of the nose. Consequently, and remembering the limited elevator movement, it is possible to bring the machine in at 80 km/hr. (50 m.p.h.) with perfect safety so long as the vertical velocity is kept within reasonable limits. For this reason, no doubt, a rate-of-descent indicator is part of the standard equipment, and its readings can be watched so that the undercarriage is not given more than it can take. It has been designed to deal with a maximum vertical velocity of 4^ metres a second, though a touch- down made at this indication should obviously be an en- tirely symmetrical one. Since there is not a very great measure of control at such low speeds it is obviously advis- able to prevent this sinking speed from exceeding 3 metres a second. All of which is mentioned to explain the pos- sibilities of the type and it is not suggested that normal approaches will ever be made in this manner; if, however, a pilot is incautious with his approach speed the machine should come to no very serious harm. Needless to say, the machine being a pusher, the view- in essential directions is excellent, but it is impossible to see directly backwards, and the necessary airscoop for engine cooling precludes the arrangement of a roof window Consequently, the effect as a whole is that the range of vision is little better than average. It would probably be fair to say that the Hammond flies on its ailerons alone no more effectively at normal speeds than one or two of our own light aeroplanes, but directional control is effective in this way right down to stalling point. On one occasion, misjudging the position of the end of a runway by a matter of two or three yards, I found no difficulty in making a complete S-turn at a speed of about 95 km/hr. (58 m.p.h.). In fact, the only curiosity of slow-speed flving with the Hammond concerns a shuddering of comparatively slow rhythm when the A.S.I, shows anything much less than 90 km/hr. This mild shaking occurs at a somewhat higher speed when climbing steeply on full throttle, and for the moment I thought it was a period in the Menasco engine.' Appar- ently it is an effect of the airflow. As a machine for the private owner's use the Hammond possesses certain minor disadvantages, the most notice- able of which is a comparative lack of lateral space in the cabin. This is somewhat exaggerated by the presence of a control column between the seats, and of the flap lever which, in order to provide adequate leverage for direct operation, is a very long one. Nor is the cabin really as quiet as it ought to be. The somewhat natural impression of the person who sees the Hammond for the first time is that it is ugly. That may be so, but one becomes accustomed to its appearance, which at least is workmanlike, and it must be remem- bered that we have become used to machines of a very different shape. In its standard form the Stearman-Hammond is fitted with full electrical equipment, including navigation lights and a self-starter, so the awkward position of the engine and airscrew is not, perhaps, so very important. How- ever, generators fail and batteries run down, and one must feel a certain amount of sympathy for the pilot who might have to stand on the centre section and swing the air- screw by hand. But we put up with a complete lack of self-starting apparatus on the majority of our light aero- planes. Nor are any of these perfect, so such complaints must be taken as an indication of the Hammond's excel- lence in essential arrangements. "_.-.- - -.•,.- STEARMAN-HAMMOND Y. 125 H.P. MENASCO PIRATE C-4* r -r £•*. ..Span 40ft. Length , 26ft. llin.Height ... ... ... •„. ... ... 7ft. 7in. All-up weight ... ..'. 2,1501b.Payload . "... ... .'.. 4801b. Maximum speed ... .... 120 m.p.h.Cruising speed (at 75 per cent, power) ... .... ... 110 m.p.h. Stalling speed ... ... ... 40m.p.h.Cruising range ... 500 miles. Distributors : N.V. Kon.-My. " De Schelde," Flushing, Holland. • The machine dealt with is fitted with the supercharged version ofthis engine. THE ITALIAN "FORMATION" ATLANTIC FLIGHT 6,250 Miles in 24 Hours' Flying Time EQUIPMENT of British origin playedan important part in last week'sremarkable Italian formationflight over the South Atlantic— from Rome 10 Rio in two "hops." The three Savoia-Marchetti S.79 bombers of the Regia Aeronautica were fitted with Pegasus engines built in Italy under licence; engine equipment in- cluded Claudel Hobson carburettors; and, as in the Damascus Race, in which a similar team triumphed, Smith's auto- matic pilots relieved the Italians of much strain, especially during stormy periods over mid-ocean. Under the command of Col. Biseo, the other two machines in the flight were piloted by Capt. Moscatelli and Lt. Bruno Mussolini. Each aircraft carried a complement of five. The three left Guidonia—Italy's " Farnborough "—on the morning 01 January 24 and, as reported last week, reached Dakar (Senegal) the same even- ing, having covered 2,800 miles at an average speed of 260 m.p.h. Strong winds and sandstorms were encountered- over the Sahara. Taking off from Dakar early the next morning, they struck out across the South Atlantic. The three kept their forma- tion for the major part of the 2,000-mile crossing, which was made in 8J hours—1\ hours less than the time set up by Codos and Reine last November. As they neared Port Natal, Biseo and Mussolini went on ahead; Moscatelli had been hav- ing trouble with one of his airscrews and, it is said, hnd made The Italian Royal third from the left Air Force crews of the three Savoias. Lt. Bruno Mussolini is , back row. In the centre of the row is Col. Biseo, and Capt. Moscatelli is standing at his left. much of the crossing on two engines only. Biseo ordered him to land at Port Natal. Biseo and Mussolini continued to their goal, Rio de Janeiro, having covered this second stage of over 3,312 miles in *3 hours, 35 minutes, an average speed of 245.5 m.p.h. The complete flight of 6,250 miles had been accomplished in 24 hours, 20 minutes flying time (39 hours, 17 minutes overall)-
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