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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 0022.PDF
T2 FLIGHT JANUARY 4TH, I945 BOEING 377 STRATOGRUISER (ij High speed, low fare, transport for 100 passengers in the three cabins. Ample space for cargo and luggage is said to be still available, and, as the passenger capacity is approximately equal to that of two modern-type (American) streamlined rail- way day-coaches, and fares could be made suffi- ciently low, operators could compete for this big field of traffic. For additional cargo space, one lower cabin could be devoted to cargo, giving an extra 750 cubic feet of space, but reducing the passenger capacity 1o 86. (ii) Luxury sleeper with 72 day seats or 36 berths in the main cabin ; rear lower cabin furnished as cock- tail bar-observation and dining lounge seating 14, and the lower forward cabin used as galley, crew quarters and cargo hold. This arrangement is for long trans-ocean flights. By using the lounge for additional passengers, the day-time capacity could be increased to 86. (iii) All-cargo transport with a drive-up ramp to the rear, and internal cargo-handling equipment. This version gives a usable cargo volume of 3,000 cubic feet and a maximum cargo payload of 35,000 lb. It is claimed that the direct operating cost of this model will be about 5 cents (2.8d.) per ton/mile. Again, an amazingly low figure which, to say the least of it, appears optimistic. Dimensions of the Stratocruiser are: Wing span, 141ft. 3m.; length, 110ft. 4m.; height, 33ft. 3m. All-op weight is given as 130,000 lb., and with a wing area of J-735 sq- ft. (aspect ratio is 11.5) this gives the very high wing loading of 74.9 lb. /sq. ft.v but take-off is presumably assisted by special flaps as used on the Superfortress. Take-off power loading would be 9.28 lb./h.p. BOOK REVIEWS Aerodynamics : by L, R. Parkinson. Macnullan, New York, *2.25.T HIS book is of that class which falls into what may becalled the " technical limbo," that is, it goes a trifle further than a purely elementary work and yet lags well behindthe actual textbook standard. So far as it goes, this book presents basic elements of aero-dynamics in a clear and concise manner, but, on the other hand, everything it contains can be found in other establishedworks together with a great deal which is not to be found in this book.We cannot help but feel that there is little public for such a book as this, at least in this country; in the U.S.A. it mightsell like hot cakes. Certainly, for anyone who wishes to obtain a brief, synoptic understanding of aerodynamic basic practice,it is quite useful, hut it is only on such grounds that it can be commended. Elementary Aerodynamics, by N. A. V. Piercy, D.Sc,M.lnst.C.E.. F.R.Ae.S., M.l.Mech.E., English Universities Press. 21sT *HE full title of this book is.: A Complete Course in EUTmentary Aerodynamics with Experiments and Examples. and it is, in our opinion, the best example of its kind we havehad the opportunity to examine. Dr. Piercy is Reader in Aeronautics in the London University and. Head of the Depart-ment of Aeronautics at Queen Mary College, and he was prin- cipal consultant for the Aerodynamics Department memoran-dum of the report of Sir Koy Fedden's Interdepartmental Com- mittee on the College of Aeronautics (Flight, Nov. 16th, 1944).Despite the technical erudition of the author, this book pre- sents its subject mattei in full accordance with the tenor of itstitle', and in no sense does the reader get the impression that he is being treated didactically. It U a work that we canrecommend without reservation as being extremely valuable both as a comprehensive elementary course in aeronautics andas a usefu! text-book. J lie Air Battle oj Malta. H.M. Stationery Office, is. nett. IT remains for historians to decide whether the Battle ofBritain or the Battle of Malta was the more remarkable. They were not similar in all respects; for, whereas in theBattle of Britain a purely defensive fight was waged by Fighter Command, with the unseen help of British sea-power in theChaunel, Malta, though frequently forced on to the defensive, was always a potentia-Hy aggressive base, whose task in the warit was to prevent supplies from Italy and Sicily from reaching the Axis forces in Africa That was why the Axis tried sohard to subdue the island, and why their failure to do so was so calamitous tor Rommel. Moreover, Malta was a centrewhere all three Services worked together. In this great struggle the Army's share was mainly gunnery;but the island was always a base for British submarines, and they and the aircraft struck constantly at the shipping of theAxis. The submarines could play no part in the defence; the aircraft had to operate as defenders and attackers in turn. Everycne has heard of the three Gladiators named Faith,Hope and Charity. flowD by flying-boat pilots who had no experience of fighters, but who made themselves a terror toencroaching Italians. The period of the Hurricane i.s was no less remarkable. The odds against which they fought, andfought successfully, make the reader gasp. In twos and threes they tackled the dozens of fighters and bombers which theLuftwaffe sent against the island—even though the Me 109 had a greater speed and better performance (though much lighterarmament) than the Hurricane 1. The few airfields on the island were constantly bombed; and how the fighters carriedon reads like a miracle. The eventual arrival of Spitfires in numbers made the defence secure; while Wellingtons and NavalSwordfish went -out and smote the enemy. This well-illustrated official publication tells the story indetail, and a shilling seems a very moderate price to pay for such a graphic piece of history. Front-Line Airline. By E. Bennett-Bremner. Angus and Robertson, Ltd.. Sydney and London. HPHIS is a story which was well worth telling, though it has-*- not been very well told. It is the story of the work done and the misfortunes suffered by Qantas Empire Airways in thewar with Japan. Some of the flying boats of the company- were promptly commandeered by the Royal Australian AirForce, and some of them were shot down in action. The remainder continued to do civil work, and this book is con-cerned with them. It was not long before the through-route between Australiaand Britain had to be abandoned, but during the Japanese invasion of Malaya and the Dutch East Indies the company's "flying boats continued to do transport work of many descrip- tions in connection with the war. Five of their civil flyingboats were lost. Corio was shot down by Japanese fighters, and probably the same fate befell Circe, which vanished fromken when on a flight. Corinna was destroyed when the Japanese raided the harbour at Broome. And so on. Thecourage and determination of the captains and crews of the boats never faltered, and they all repeatedly faced deadlyperils in carrying out work of great importance to the war. This work is still going on, and the complete tale of QantasEmpire's war effort has still to be written. Somehow or other it does'nt seem to have any power thismorning
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