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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 1394.PDF
b FLIGHT. MAY 19, APPRO to , A Visit to the Aero Loug Illustrated One of the fine residentialhalls, situated on the out- skirts of Loughborough. -CRutland Hall, as the central building is called,is as lavishly decorated • and finished as the ex- •'.terior and name would :. suggest. A well preservedmuseum-piece sets off the entrance. T1 HERE are only a very few estab-lishments in the country whichare adequately equipped to give a complete training in aero- nautical engineering, and Lough- borough College, Leicestershire, can fairly claim to be one of these. On leaving school a boy and presum-ably a girl, too, may go to a university for a three- or four-year course in engi-neering, and on coming down enter one or other of the large aircraft factoriesunder an apprentice scheme to continue with practical training for a further two or three yearsDisadvantages of this course appear to be chiefly the time and expense involved and the fact that the training with onefirm must necessarily limit the scope of the practical aero- nautical experience gained. Unless the student trains with afirm with the definite intention of taking employment with that firm after completing the course, it is often preferable to spenda reasonable period of, say, five years from matriculation in gaining a thorough general knowledge of all branches of aero-nautics; then, having obtained a post with a firm, the student may set, about getting accustomed to their particular methods.That general knowledge can be obtained at such an estab- lishment as Loughborough College, which has held an enviablereputation for engineering training for many years; more recently the aeronautical side has been strongly developed.The course normally takes four years, with a fifth if an honours diploma is required. During the first two years thelectures are practically the same as for general engineering, and physical as well as mental training is included in this period.In the following years the lectures become more specialised and include aircraft construction, stress analysis, engines,materials strength and metallurgy. Energy and Enthusiasm Probably due to the energy and enthusiasm of the Head ofthe Aero Department, Fit. Lt. H. E. Falknar, B.A. (Cantab.), D.I.C., A.F.R.Ae.S., the equipment in the aero engine and air-craft sections and in the aerodynamic laboratory is exception- ally good. Unlike many engine instructional departments, Loughboroughholds designs representative of the latest form of construction. Several historical units are also included in the list. Amongthe units represented are a supercharged Rolls-Royce Kestrel, a Gipsy Six, and several Bristol and Armstrong Siddeley enginesof types still in regular service. The engine components are each studied separately, and rigs have been designed and pro-duced for magneto and carburettor testing. The airframe department is equally well equipped. Modernconstructional practices can be studied in such a notable proto- type as the Blackburn H.S.T.10, rigging exercises are carriedout on a Wapiti wing, and the single-float experimental Fairey machine, a Bristol Bullpup and numerous parts—including astainless steel float, Oleo legs and airscrews—supply other practical information. The Fairey long-range monoplane hasnow been dismantled at Loughborough and the Gloster survey machine is kept outside on the playing fields. Indicative of Loughborough's practical attitude is the factthat metal tubes and spars from machines no longer required have been cut up and welded into tables, trestles and racks.A 70 m.p.h. wind tunnel with a 10 h.p. motor is used, in conjunction with a number of ingenious models to demonstratevarious principles in the aerodynamic laboratory. Having spent an hour with the wind tunnel no student could doubtthe existence of wing-tip vortices or the effect of streamlining. Instruction at Loughborough is divided up into weeks, aweek's theory being followed by a week's practice, and so on. Special facilities are given to students to fly at Braunstone
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