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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 0128.PDF
°6 FLIGHT JANUARY 2OTH, 1944 THE HAWKER TYPHOON girder structure of the front portion of the fuselage. The main monocoque frame is situated some distance aft of the adtual joint between the coverings of front and rear fuselage portions, and is in fact the beginning of the actual rnonocoque structure, the skin between it and the front portion being merely a fairing. In other words, the joint in the skin and that of the stress-bearing structure are separated by a fore-and-aft distance of a couple of feet or so. Mention ha*s been made of the fact that the monocoque portion of the fuselage is made in two units. This is done purely for ease of manufacture, and the two are not readily detached from each other. The fin is integral with the rear unit, and pick-up points are provided for 'the tailplane in the form of fittings external to the skin. The tailplane, by the way, is symmetrical, so that each half can be mounted on either side. Wing Structure Although the wing structure does not show such radical changes in the forms of construction employed as is the case with the fuselage, there are changes, notably in the spar construction, as one traces it from root to tip. The inner portion of the wing has a flat under surface, and, as •the wing tapers in thickness, this means that the top surface has a negative dihedral angle. Over this portion of the wing the spars have extruded flanges of "pi" sec tion. The web has struts and ties in the form of a Warren girder, the vertical and diagonal members being formed of two spaced channel sections with their closed sides facing outwards. The more highly stressed are formed into box sections by flat plates, while the more lightly stressed merely have small spacing plates at intervals. The Warren girder form of construction finishes at the point where the outer wing portions form a dihedral angle with the inner, but the " pi " section flanges are continued" outwards for another three feet or so, although the section is, of course, interrupted where the break in the line occurs. The web of the spars over this portion is of the solid sheet- metal type, with flanged circular lightening, holes at intervals. Some three feet outboard from the "dihedral break," the section of the spar flange changes from the #.pi" section to a " T " section. The vertical limb of the T is attached to one limb of the "pi" by fish plates. The web from here to the tip is a sheet, with lightening holes at intervals. The ribs are, in the main, plain sheet with the edges Although the Typhoon has a 2,200 h.p. liquid-cooled engine, it actually has less head resistance than its predecessor, the Hurricane. This photograph em phasises the extremely wide under carriage track which, with the wheel brakes, makes it a very tractable air craft to handle when landing, taking off or taxying. VX-- The Dunlop tail wheel is carried on a Dowty strut and retracts forward, as shown in tshe top sketch. The tyre is a Dunlop Ecta. turned over and circular lightening holes. Nose ribs are N girders or solid sheet, according to local require ments. The skin is stiffened by span-wise stringers of "top-hat" section, and flush-riveted joints are used throughout. The ailerons, which are of a modified Frise type and mass-balanced, are shrouded in the usual way. The split trailing edge flaps are each made in two sections, due to the fact that they extend from the fuselage to a point out board of the " dihedral joint," so that there is a break in the lines. A retractable undercarriage of very wide (Continued on page 67. ^
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