FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0720.PDF
292 FLIGHT MARCH I8TH, 1943 LAMINATED PLASTICS SECTION THROUGH SEAT •2', BACKREST •fflM k SECTION A-A SEAT SIDE Details, from a German review, of a Spitfire laminatedplastics seat. It is made in four parts, owing to limitations of moulding technique. material is impregnated with the resin as it slowly passes through ; leaving the bath, it is immediately fed into the drying chamber. This chamber, which is approximately 90ft. in length, is kept at a temperature of about 85 deg. C. for paper material. In the case of fabric material, however, the temperature is increased to 100 deg. C. Hot air is drawn into this chamber from underneath, and the forced draught causes the material to "float" as it passes through. In other words, the material does not come into contact with the floor of the drying chamber. Having passed through the chamber the material emerges in a dry state, and is then automatically rolled on to a revolving spindle. The roll is then removed to the guillotine, cut into sheets of the required length and stacked ready for the next operation. This operation is the simultaneous application of heat and pressure. The laminations are arranged according to the ultimate thickness of the material required and placed in the press, where they are subjected to a pressure ranging from 0.5 to 1 ton/sq. in. at a temperature of 40 deg. C, rising to 160 deg. C., thereby causing the resin to flux. Whilst the material is still under pressure the heat is turned off and water is passed through the platens of the press. This has the effect of cooling the material, so enabling the operators to handle it and remove it from the Loading a laminating press in which the impregnatedmaterial is subjected to the simultaneous application of heat and pressure. The former ranges from 40 deg. C. to160 deg. C, and the pressure from 0.5 to 1 ton per sq. in. press. The edges having been trimmed, the material is in its final form, and after passing a rigid inspection it is ready for use. The curing period takes from one to two and a half hours, according to thickness. Laminated plastic material is being increasingly used for certain aircraft fittings and equipment. In addition, it is used extensively in electrical equipment, and also, in its thicker form, for the timing gears of cars and lorries. Although the process described is that of producing the material in the form of flat sheets, it can be conveniently moulded if necessary, and lends itself to this technique. Hook Reviews Is Bombing Decisive? By Captain F. O. Miksche. GeorgeAllen and Unwin, Ltd. is. net. OT long ago we had the pleasure of reviewing the bookParatroops, by Captain Miksche, a Czechoslovak officer attached to the French General Staff. In this later volume heattacks the views expressed by Mr. A. P. De Seversky in his book Victory Through Air Power, which has had a great salein the United States. The Russian-American aircraft con- structor set forth the theory that wars can be won solely bybombing important enemy targets from the air, while ground lorces would only be needed for the Occupation and policingof the areas conquered by the air forces We are fully in agreement with Captain Miksche in his beliefthat this doctrine is thoroughly unsound, and we understand that the British Air Staff holds a similar opinion. Everyoneis agreed that air bombing must go on, and that it will diminish the enemy's power of resistance—though to what an extentis a question which it may not be possible to answer until after this war is over, We'agree with this author and others •including Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham) that the final victory will be won by ground armies, strongly sup-ported by all available and appropriate aircraft. Captain Miksche's book is very closely reasoned, but hisarguments are not always easy to follow, probably through shortcomings in the translation. Nevertheless, it repays careful study, and is a useful contribution to the study of strategy as modified by the appearance in this war of what is practically a new weapon, and of tho new tactics which go with it. Coastal Command at War. By Sqn. Ldr. Tom Dudley-Gordon;with a Foreword by Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Jouhert dc la Frrte. Jarrolds. 7s. 6d. net. ONE would imagine that this book would have a poor chanceof success, being published so soon after the very excellent official Coastal Command. Yet the fact that the A.O.C.-in-C,Coastal Command, has consented to write a foreword shows that there must be something in the book which makes itdifferent from the official history. It is, in fact, a collection of stories of gallant deeds, adventures and curious experiencesof men and aircraft of the Command. Each branch of the manifold duties of this Command aredealt with, and yet no space is devoted to a description of its organisation. Such descriptions are apt to be thought dull bysome readers, but this book will give the reader a sound know- ledge of the organisation without ever telling him that it isdoing so. Some of the stories have been told before, in official communiques or elsewhere, but they will stand telling againby such a well-informed and giaphic writer as Sqn. Ldr. Dudley-Gordon. The book has all the qualities which makefor popularity and is well illustrated by photographs.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
