FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1938
1938 - 2097.PDF
JULY 21, 1938- FLIGHT. 67 Commercial Aviation TOWARDS the FLYING SHIP Details of the Boeing 314 or Atlantic Clipper : A 100-passenger Successor? The Boeing 314 taking off from Puget Sound. Twin rudders and redesigned sponsons are being fitted as the result of initial tests. SOME illuminating facts have lately been disclosed by the Boeing concern relative to the Model 314, or Atlantic Clipper, flying boat. The machine is now being modified after initial tests. Among the many practical benefits conferred by the excep tional size of the machine is the accessibility of its four 1,500 h.p. two-row Cyclone 14s. during flight. Catwalks in the leading engine of the wing lead to the semi-monocoque engine nacelles, each of which is circular in section and roomy enough for severalmen to work erect. This feature was first introduced on the Boeing XB-15 experimental bomber for the U.S. Army Air Corps. The Hamilton Hydromatic full-feathering air screws enable any of the engines to be stopped during flight so that mechanics may work on engine accessories en route. Doors on either side of each nacelle fold down to form main tenance platforms. The control deck provides ample working space for the flight crew of six. The main control room measures 21ft. by i2|ft. At the forward end are the pilot's and co-pilot's positions, which have surprisingly few controls and instruments because of the decentralisation of duties. • On the port side, behind the first pilot, is the navigator's position with a table 7ft. long and 2^ft. wide for laying out full-size nautical charts. Opposite the navigator, on the starboard side, is the wireless operator's desk. The equipment includes a direction-finder, three trans mitters and four receivers. Behind the navigator is the captain's desk and overstuffed chair, with a second chair alongside for conferences. Although hitherto the captain of an aircraft has been the first pilot, the 314 has a separate office for the captain to supervise and co ordinate the work of the other members of the crew. Opposite the cap tain's desk are the A SUPER, SUPER- CLIPPER: The in- terior of the 100-pas- senger transoceanic flying boat planned by the Boeing Aircraft Company for Pan- American Airways. The machine, if or dered, would resemble ascaled-up 314 with s jx engines built into the wing, a hull of improved aerodyna mic form and retract able wing floats. flight engineer's quarters, with a desk and expansive instru ment and control panel. The engineer is in charge of the fuel valves, mixture controls (being aided by an exhaust gas analyser), pitch controls, temperature controls, and individual throttles for the engines. Special instruments and syn chronisers are fitted to co-ordinate engine speed. Opposite each side of the engineer's station are doorways to the cat walk, which lead out through the wings to the nacelles. The control room is soundproof throughout so that the crew can confer without the aid of telephones. Behind the main control room are the cargo rooms in the centre of the wing; they are divided with different compart ments for mail, baggage and freight. Above the centre aisle in this section is a large loading hatch fitted with a glass- enclosed turret for celestial observations. On each side of the cargo sections is a 600-gallon fuel tank. The main tanks are in the sea-wings, or sponsons. The passengers' lounge and dining room are in the same region, on the main deck below. Thus all the weight variables—cargo, fuel and passengers—are located near the centre of gravity. Behind the cargo rooms On the top deck are the crew's sleeping quarters. Steps from the control room lead' down to the mooring com partment in the bows, which contains an 80 lb. stainless steel anchor, additional sleeping accommodation for the crew, and the further cargo space. The passenger deck is divided into nine separate sections. Five of these are standard passenger compartments accom modating ten passengers each; the sixth is a small compartment
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
