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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 1506.PDF
474 MAY 23, 1940 HERE and THERE Round the Clock THE French Air Ministry has issued a communique to pointout that all the French aircraft factories will in future work throughout the 24 hours, including Sundays and holidays. Fitters Wanted AN appeal was made recently by Lord Beaverbrook, Minis-ter of Aircraft Production, for fitters working in garages, mostly on repairs of civilian motor transport, to volunteer for work in aircraft factories. Applications should be made either to the aircraft factories or to the nearest Labour Exchange. Delivery of Boeing 307s HPHE first of the Boeing 307 Stratoliners for T.YV.A. was due -*- for delivery at Portland, Oregon, early this month, to be followed almost immediately by two more. The first will be put on to the coast-to-coast route starting from Burbank, Cal., while the second and third will start their work from Kansas City, Missouri. Two more, making five in all, are due for delivery in June. Incendiary Bombs T^ESTS conducted at the Fire Brigade Headquarters, Sydney, -*- show that it is more effective to handle incendiary bombs with shovels made of hardwood than of steel. Australian hardwoods were used in tests which consisted in igniting a quantity of thermite, the material of incendiary bombs, on wood and on steel. A hole was melted in the steel plate but the woods only charred, even though subjected to the fire for four minutes. The best species was a wood known as turpen- tine, which only charred to a depth of one-eighth inch, while bluegum and white cypress were found to be next best. House- holders and fire authorities, in giving thought to their fire precautions to deal with this menace, would do well to remember this. Northrop Builds Wind Tunnel '"PHE construction of a wind tunnel for testing models ot•*• new designs has been undertaken by Northrop Aircraft, Inc. Southern California aircraft manufacturers have beenfaced with crowded test schedules at the only two tunnels on the Pacific Coast, the Guggenheim Aeronautics Laboratoryoi the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, and the University of Washington Aeronautics Laboratory at Seattle.The Cal. Tech. Tun-nel required reservation three or four months in advance and the Seattle tunnel two months. The Northrop tunnel will be the largest one owned by amanufacturer in the United States. Oi the same size as the Cal. Tech tunnel, it was designed by the Northrop engineeringdepartment, assisted by Dr. Theodore Von Karman and Dr. William Sears. Of the return-flow type, it has a wind speedof 150 m.p.h. Power is supplied by a 450 h.p. internal com- bustion engine, which is a rather unusual feature. The tunnelis designed for much higher speeds by adding more power if requiied. The largest secticn of the tunnel is 35ft. by 22^ft.,with the average size 224ft. in diameter, narrowing to a 10ft. throat in which the model is suspended. Forces are measuredon six Toledo scales, and the operator can lock these scales to get the readings ail at cue time if desired.Changes in pitch and yaw settings during the test run can be made without shutting down. Modern Aircraft Valves A VERY comprehensive paper under the title of " Modern •**• Aircraft Valves " was recently delivered before the Boston and Hartford sections of the Society of Automotive Engineers by Mr. A. T. Colwell, who is a vice-president of Thompson Products, Inc., the well-known American valve manufacturing firm. The paper is an endeavour to collate all available present-day information on the subject of aircraft valves and is a veiy successful attempt. The author is in a fortunate position to write such a paper as his firm supplies valves to many famous aero-engine factories and the trend towards specialised part manufacture is very noticeable nowadays. Covering some 23 typewritten sheets, the paper is copiously illustrated with 17 sheets of illustrations, and includes sections on design, manufacture and inspection, and operating troubles. The practices and technique employed by the leading engine firms of France, America, Britain, Germany and Italy are all included and the subject is dealt with in both the particular and the general way. For instance, we are told that: "The technique of valve Stelliting . . . requires close attention to details ... A satisfactory flame is one in which the feather is three times the length of the inner cone." And elsewhere, The use of sodium, the hollow head, and forced lubrication are American developments. Austenitic steel, Stellite and steel inserts were first employed in England." With its operating temperatures of I.TOO to 1,300 deg. F., the exhaust valve is certainly one of the most wonderful parts of the modern aero engine and, as the author says, " Is meet- ing every requirement imposed upon it to-day. This includes speeds of over 3,000 r.p.m. and b.m.e.p. cf over 200 lb./sq.in. Many American valves are operating over 5,000 hours." This paper is recommended to all interested in the design of aero- engines and is typical of the liberality with which Americans publish their technical data. • RAe.S., 1940 THE Royal Aeronautical Society announces the nominationof the following to the new council. President: Mr. A. H. R. Fedden, M.B.E., D.Sc, M.I.A.E..M.I.Mech.E., M.S.A.E., F.R.Ae.S.; Past President: Mr. H. E. Wimperis, C.B., C.B.E., D.Eng., M.I.E.E., F.R.Ae.S.; Vice-Presidents: Mr. Griffith Brewer, Hon. F.R.Ae.S.; Air Vice- Marshall R. M. Hill, M.C., A.F.C., M.A., F.R.Ae.S. Council: Captain P. D. Acland; Professor L. Bairstow, .C.B.E., F.R.S., F.R.Ae.S.; Mr. R. Blackburn, O.B.E., A.M.Inst.C.E., M.I.M.E., F.R.Ae.S.; Mr. Griffith Brewer,Hon. F.R.Ae.S.; Mr. S. Camm, F.R.Ae.S.; Dr. H. Roxlx-e Cox, D.I.C., B.Sc, F.R.Ae.S.; Mr. W. C. Devereux,F.R.Ae.S.; Mr. D. L. Ellis, B.Sc., A.R.T.C, A.F.R.Ae.S.; Mr. E. C. Gordon England, F.R.Ae.S. ; Professor F. T. Hill, .F.R.Ae.S.; Air Vice-Marshall R. M. Hill, M.C., A.F.C., M.A., F.R.Ae.S.; Captain A. G. Lamplugh, F.R.Ae.S.; Lt.-Col. W.Lockwood Marsh, O.B.E., M.A., Ll.B., M.S.A.E., A.F.I.Ae.S., F.R.Ae.S.; Lt.-Col. J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon, M.C., F.R.Ae.S.,-M.P.; Mr. D. R. Pye, C.B., F.R.S., M.A., Sc.D., M.I.Mech.E., F.R.Ae.S.; Major B. W. Shilson, O.B.E., M.I.Mech.E.,F.R.Ae.S. ; Mr. F. M. Thomas, A.F.R.Ae.S. ; Mr. A. Hessell Tiltman, B.Sc., F.R.Ae.S.; Dr. H. C. Watts, M.B.E.,M.Inst.C.E., F.R.Ae.S.; Mr. R. T. Yonngman, B.Sc., F.R.Ae.S. Honorary Treasurer: Major D. H. Kennedy, O.B.E.,F.R.Ae.S. Solicitor: Mr. Lawrence A. Wingfield, M.C., D.F.C., A.R.Ae.S. Honorary Librarian: Mr. J. E. Hodgson,Hon. F.R.Ae.S. Honorary Accountant: Mr. A. N. D. Smith, F.C.A. Secretary and Editor: Captain J. Laurence Pritchard,Hon. F.R.Ae.S., A.F.I.Ae.S. "~ " " Alston Memorial Prize THE Council of the Royal Aeronautical Society have acceptedwith great pleasure an offer from Mrs. G. Alston to found a prize in memory of her husband, Peter Alston, who was killed in a flying accident on February 16th, 1939. The prize, an annual one of approximately £5 in value, will be known as the Alston Memorial Prize. It will be awarded by the Council of the Society for work aiming at the improve- ment of the safety of aircraft and particularly at improvement in stability and control and such award shall be made to the Student and/or Graduate of the Society who shall in any year be selected by the Council of the Society to be its recipient. Martin Bombers Ordered IT was announced by the Glenn Martin Company of Baltimorelast Saturday that the Allied Purchasing Commission has accepted a specification for a bomber and has agreed to buy as many machines as the firm can turn cut during the next eighteen months. The interesting statement is made that " the machine has been designed mainly by Allied aircraft experts schooled in the latest technique of air warfare." Light Alloy Supplies T7OLLOWING the announcement, published in Flight last J- week, of the appointment of Brigadier-General H. A. Jones tc the post of Controller of Light Alloys, the Ministry of Aircraft Production now announces that Mr. F. S. Spriggs has been appointed chairman of the Light Alloy Committee, the members of which are Mr. W. C. Devereux, Mr. F. S. Mitman, Mr. H. W. Clarke, and Mr. P. Pritchard.
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