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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 0071.PDF
JANUARY IITH, 1945 MOSQUITO SCHOOL the classroom lectures, andit is worthy of mention that every single component andunit used for demonstration in the school is salvage—nothing was abstracted from the production lines to fur-nish the school with demon- stration equipment. As may be seen from theaccompanying illustrations, the mock-ups and demonstra-tion panels are excellently arranged to afford studentsthe very least difficulty in grasping the principles : andessentials of the various ser- vices. In each case wheremotion is involved, for example the undercarriage,pneumatic and hydraulic systems, etc., the layout panels and mock-ups arc suppliedwith a power source so that operative actuation can be clearly shown. 'Ihe electrical services demonstration panel is particu-larly ingenious, the various control panels, components and their respective wiring circuits being positioned appro-priately on a board shaped approximately in the aircraft's plan-form. This allows the students to walk around andfollow the several circuits involved and, at the same time, gives a graphic representation of the particular disposi-tions. The demonstration panel is arranged on runners with counter-weights so that, when not in use, it can beswung into a vertical position flat against the wall and so feve space. Seeing Them Made Classroom instruction is facilitated by the use of large-scale diagrams mounted on each side of easels fitted with casters, so enabling them to be wheeled about as required.In addition to the instruction given at the school, students arc taken on conducted tours of the main works and thevarious dispersed factories, where they have the oppor- tunity of seeing at first hand the various aspects of theaircraft under construction. From experience it has been found that instructionaltime is lost by the necessity of students making their notes A Merlin engine is used for demonstrating the various intricacies of the power unit installation and accessories operation. during lectures, and that mistakes inevitably occur due tothe student attempting to divide his attention tetween his notebook and the lecturer. To minimise confusion thesalient points to be dealt with during the course arc arranged to coincide with the syllabus lecture notes givento each student, and as a further aid, the back of each page is left blank for any additional notes or sketches thestudent may wish to make. The lecture notes provided contain many diagrams which save the student time inmaking them personally as well as precluding the possi bility of his making mistakes in drawings or annotation. Billeting and messing for non-commissioned personnel arearranged as part of the school, but officers have to make their own arrangements locally. An excellent feature ofthis particular school is that both the De Havilland Senior Staff Club and the Works Social and Sports Club extendhonorary membership to students for the duration of their course. The school is run by the De Havilland Service depart-ment under the supervision of Mr. A. J. Brant, with Mr. D. VV. Richardson as chief instructor. Mr. Richardson isassisted by two civilian instructors and three senior N.C.O. instructors of R.A.F. Technical Training Command. There can be no doubt as to the value of the work theschool is doing in keeping our fleets of Mosquitoes at maxi- mum operational serviceability. ANTI-G SUIT FOR FIOHTER PILOTS A SIMPLE but effective means of protecting the fighterpilot from the effects of excessive "positive g" during violent manoeuvres is now in general use with I'.S.A.A.Ffighter pilots, and was demonstrated to Flight last week by Capt. Donald W: Johnson, a Mustang pilot of 339 FighterGroup. As most readers will already know, the centrifugal force setup by quick changes of direction at high speed, such as when pulling up sharply out of a dive, or making a tight turn athigh speed, virtually results in the pilot's weight being tem- porarily increased. So long as the increase is not more than,sayf 2J to 3 times gravity, the fit man feels no ill-effects, but the performance of the modern high-speed fighter aircraftis such that, in combat, the pilot may have to perform manoeuvres which will impose a load of perhaps six timesgravity—Cg or even more.. This causes the blood to be drained away from his head into the lower parts of his bodyand the almost immediate result is a black-out; not a good thing during a mix-up with a "one-ninety." The problem, then, was to prevent this drainage of bloodfrom trie head, and it was discovered that this could readily be done by exerting a balancing pressure on the lower partsof the body. Experiments were carried cut at Wright Field (the Ameri- can equivalent of Farnboroug*h) and the final result was theBerger G-2 suit now in use. This is not really a suit in the accepted sense of the word, but an arrangement of fivebladders, linked l)y straps, which fit over the pilot's stomach, thighs and calves and is worn inside the normal flying suit. The five bladders are connected by an air-line to the exhaustside of the engine-driven vacuum pump, via a spring-valve which is automatically opened as g is increased. The actionis progressive and thus the amount of pressure admitted to the bladders and thereby applied to the lower parts of thepilot's body and legs is automatically adjusted to the degree of g being exerted upon him. In effect, the same g forcewhich is trying to drain the blood away from his head is made to operate in the opposite direction through the bladdersand thus maintain a balance; so far as the pilot's physical properties are concerned, the g cancels itself out." We have been using this suit for some little time," Capt. Johnson told Flight, "and it does the job perfectly. Nomatter how tight the turn or how quick the pull-up from a dive, the pilot stays perfectly normal. This gives him adouble advantage in that not only is he safe from blacking- out, but he does not have to bother about trying to ward offa black-out ,and so can look around and give his whole atten- tion to the job in hand.'
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