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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 0041.PDF
JANUARY 5, 1939 FLIGHT. 23 meeting. Then I was shown round the research establish ment. I shall not attempt to give here a description of what I saw, but will only sum up my impressions as a most remarkable experience. I could see there that they are well in a position to undertake a complete research programme in respect of rotary-wing aircraft, including even problems in connection with high-speed helicopters, and I was given to understand that it is their intention to do serious work now in this direction. After this, an invitation from the departments concerned in the U.S. Air Corps brought me to their establishment at Wright Field, Ohio, where, apart from discussions of the principles of the Hafner rotor control, the interest The problem of "jump starts " or direct lift has been successfully tackled by the designer of the Weir single- seater Autogiro. centred in the proposed low-torque, high-performance helicopter, so much so that, with this machine in view, exterpolations were made from their experience with exist ing gyroplanes. Many other connections which I made, important as they are to me, are of small general interest. On the whole, I had a very interesting time in the States, and after a month's stay I returned to Europe, bringing back many pleasant memories. Canadian Figures STATISTICS recently (and apparently rather belatedly) issued by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics at Ottawa show that in 1937 eight factories were engaged chiefly in making or assembling aircraft or in manufacturing parts or devices such as pontoons, skis, trainers, etc. Five of these were in Ontario, two in Quebec and one in Manitoba. Pro duction from these works was valued at $1,730,724, including $819,960 for 105 complete aircraft and $910,764 for parts and other products. An average of 606 workers were employed throughout the year and salaries and wages amounted to $691,934. Fixed and working capital totalled $2,836,836. A few aeroplanes were made by concerns which were classified to other industrial groups in the statistical summaries, the manufacture of aircraft being of secondary importance in these instances. Two such companies reported an output of five machines worth $641,666 in 1937, bringing the total Canadian output in that year to no machines valued at $1,461,626. Production in Scotland T*HE possibility of Edinburgh and East Scotland sharing J- in Government rearmament contracts—mainly the produc tion of aircraft components—was the subject of a lengthy discussion in Edinburgh on December 20 between Air Ministry officials and representatives of Edinburgh Corporation. The latter learned in considerable detail the requirements of the Ministry. Details of the resources of the area were submitted to the Ministry officials, who indicated certain lines of action, and it was agreed to complete a survey of the city and compile a list of firms in a position to tender for work. The Ministry representatives stated that they are to hold two exhibitions of aircraft components for the guidance of manufacturers interested—one in Glasgow about February 5, and the other in Edinburgh a week later. Before leaving for London in the evening, the Ministry officials told a Flight correspondent that they wanted to em phasise the fact that although Glasgow and Edinburgh had been chosen as centres, all Scottish manufacturers who con sidered themselves able to participate in the work were invited to make offers. In the afternoon Mr. E. J. H. Lemon Director-General of Production) and the other Ministry officials had a meeting with the local authority representatives for Lanarkshire. Later Flight's correspondent learned that Sir William Thomson, ex-Lord Provost of Edinburgh and chairman of the Scottish Motor Traction Co Ltd., is associated with a scheme to establish a factory in the east. Preliminary plans are now being made for the new aircraft factory at Abbotsinch to employ 2,500 men; the Scottish exhibition of aircraft patterns and models; the allocation of contracts direct by the Air Ministry for firms in the Clyde area; and the opening of training schools for mechanics and apprentices who wish to take up aircraft work. Architects are also at work preparing plans for several new aerodromes. New Anti-corrosion Process IT is an elementary fact that, the more "porous" a metal surface, the more quickly will it corrode, since the surface will hold the attacking agents and give them a favourable start; further porosity is the result, and a vicious circle begins. If incipient attack can be repelled, the strength of the defence is apparent. For example, metallic surfaces which have been polished or otherwise mechanically treated so that the pores are to some degree closed, will have greater resist ance to corrosion than will untreated surfaces of the same material. A new anti-corrosion treatment, the Roval process, is based on these facts. By electrolytic means involving the use of a special bath and "entirely novel and complex electrodes," a mixture of metals—in effect an alloy—is deposited on the base metal. By the use of so-called accelerators, which are thought actually to increase the speed of impinging particles, such deposition is found to penetrale the metal pores so that they are completely closed by the resistant alloy. As this process is dependable for its result on the closing of pores rather than on a protective layer, it is not necessary or desirable to build up any appreciable metallic depth. This feature, it is claimed, offers a great advantage over ordinary plating or spraying processes, since the dimensions of the article treated are virtually unaltered. For instance, fine screw threads may be treated without in any way impairing their fit. Another important advantage claimed is that simple pre liminary cleaning or pickling is sufficient to ensure satisfactory results. It is stated that the Roval process is applicable to alloys used in aircraft construction, and that it is already being used in connection with Government work. Details are obtainable from International Corrodeless, Ltd., Windsor House, 46, Victoria Street, London. S.W.i. *
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