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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 1888.PDF
IOO FLIGHT AUGUST 2IST, 1941. but by omitting to leave the Navy and the Army with fjeir own Air Arms when the independent Service was formed. After many years of acrimonious discussion, it was found necessary to restore the Fleet Air Arm to the Navy, while, at the present time, discussion is proceeding as to whether the Army ought not also to have its own air contingent. Some people exclaim: "What, three Air Forces? " That expression is misleading. Britain needs one Air Force; Air Arms for the two senior Services are a different matter. Neither Air Arm (if both existed) in any way detracts from the need for maintaining the Royal Air Force. Only the R.A.F. could be entrusted, for example, with the air defence of Great Britain. The Atfero Accident •. -;,.:;>-.--:•'•:;%-rs-:^J UST as we are about to go to press with-this week's issue, news has come through of a second accident to an Atfero aircraft, and the Empire and the United States of America share the loss of another 22 men, bringing the total up to 44. Hitherto no official explanation has been given, and the only name of a victim of the second accident that has been pub- lished is that of Mr. Arthur Purvis, chairman of the British Supply Council in North America. There is a similarity in the circumstances of the two mishaps which is rather disquieting. Both occurred shortly after the take-off, the first some distance away from the aerodrome, and the second just outside the aerodrome boundaries. The possibility that the aero- drome is unsuitable for the aircraft used cannot be ruled out. Technical Trends TWO subjects are dealt with in the pages of thisissue which are likely to occupy the thoughts oftechnicians in the near future: Contra-rotating airscrews and the vexed problem of fuel delivery <to the engine. It is no mere coincidence that both relate directly or indirectly to high-altitude flying. The ten- dency in military aviation is in that direction, and that Power whose aircraft can attain the greatest height, coupled with speed arid load-carrying capacity, will have a marked advantage over its opponents. As an indication of this trend, we may mention that a high-flying Boeing Fortress was attacked by fighters recently and suffered damage and casualties, although it succeeded in returning home. Among the advantages of contra-rotating airscrews is the extra efficiency which they give at great heights and high speeds. There seems to be little doubt that the Fortress would benefit from " contra-props." On the question of fuel delivery, a contributor to this issue gives what we regard as a very fair and unbiased estimate of the advantages and disadvantages of fuel injection. On balance, injection appears to score slightly, but it may well be that it would be impracticable to change over in the middle of a war such as that in which we are now engaged. Fortunately, there is in existence a well-tried system which appears to give most of the advantages of direct injection: continuous injec- tion into the supercharger entry. Modification of engines for this system is far less drastic, and could probably be introduced without upsetting production seriously. p=r TO GIVE SHORT SHRIFT : Mr. Winston Churchill inspecting a Stirling four-engined heavy bomber. and Manchesters are all being employed in the heavy raids on Cennany. Stirlings, Halifaxes,
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