FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1946
1946 - 1106.PDF
FLIGHT TUNE 6TH, 1946 Hermes /Hastings Prototype Highly Successful Trials of Handley-Page Transport : Cruising Speed 300 m.p.h. : New Developments Announced ON May 7th, six months after the first Hermes crashedon its maiden flight, the second prototype of the bigHandley-Page transport flew at Wittering. Initial trials were completed in sixteen days of testing from the 2f-mile runway and the machine was flown to Radlett for demonstration and supplementary tests. This in itself is satisfactory, but a cruising speed of 300 m.p.h., a top speed of 355 m.p.h., both considerably in excess of estimated figures, combined with unimpeachable handling qualities, have already placed the Hermes and its military variant t£ie Hastings, in the front rank of the world's transport air- craft. The high speed is attributable not only to the aero- dynamic cleanness and careful finish but to the design of such items as fillets and the ultra-modern engine installa- tion, free of parasitic excrescences. Of special interest is the design of the wing fillet, with its sharp entry. The machine now flying is essentially a Hastings, and the lavish internal appointments which will characterize the Hermes are not in evidence, but any airline operator who, like the C. in C. Transport Command, witnessed Monday's demonstration, would have been amply im- pressed by Sqn. Ldr. M. W. Hartford's display of flying qualities. Loaded to 60,000 lb the machine climbed ini- tially at what seemed to be over 1,500 feet a minute, and according to the designer, Mr. Stafford, the climb at the maximum designed weight of 75,000 lb is at least 1,000 ft/min. Pressurizing tests of a section of the Hermes passenger cabin have been successfully completed and the cockpit should have been proved by this time. No structural diffi- culties of any kind were presented and the pressurizing system itself is in the experienced hands of Westland Air- craft, Ltd. The oblong windows interspersed among the characteristic portholes are escape hatches. The table of initial flights reproduced below speaks for itself. Features of structure and accommodation have been dealt with in Flight of January 10th, 1946, and the Handley Page design staff has already been encouraged to proceed with new and even more impressive developments. Supplementing the present Hermes Mk I, the Mk II will have a fuselage 95ft Gin long (the present length is 82ft 2in), and an all-up weight of 80,000 lb. The pay load will be reduced by 2,600 1b, range by about 200 miles, and cruising speed by 10 m.p.h., but to offset this the new model will have accommodation for 64 passengers. Bristol Hercules engines will be retained, but in the Mk III ver- sion, which will likewise have the lengthened fuselage and fly at 80,000 lb, four Bristol Theseus turbine-airscrew units will raise the cruising speed to 355 m.p.h. at 30,000ft. Despite the increased consumption of the new power plant the maximum range will be over 2,700 miles. RECORD OF FLIGHT TESTS Purpose of Flight Maiden flight. Determination of longitudinal stability, power-on and powsr-off. Full handling tests of controls. De- termination of stalling speed and aircraft behaviour at stall. Handling with outboard engines throttled. Further longitudinal stability tests. Level speed tests. Handling with elevator servo tab in V operation. Handling with two engines throttled back on one side- Handling by second alternative test pilot. Handling and stability with load arranged to give rearmost centre of gravity. Handling with increased weight and two engines throttled back on one side. Measurement of elevator trim over the speed range. Further handling, stability and elevator trim determination. Handling and stability at increased load. Baulked landing test. Check wich increased weight and two engines throttled back on one side. Take-off measurements. Climb and level speed runs. Handling.- Baulked landing. Check with maximum weight and two engines throttled back on one side. Handling by thirrt alternative test pilot. Ferrying from R.A.F. Wittering to Radlett. Handling, demonstration and photo- graphy. Date 7.5.46 10.5.46 10.5.46 12.5.46 12.5.46 13.5.46 15.5.46 20.5.46 Time ofFlight 33 m 2hr'25 m 1 hr 10 m 1 hr 5 m 55 m 50 m 1 hr 20 m 1 hr 25 m Weight 54.377 ib •• 60,000 Ib 65.000 Ib C.G Forward Aft Normal 22.5.46 55 m 70,000 Ib 23.5.46 40 m 23.5.46 2 hr 05 m 53,000 Ib 54,000 Ib Forward Normal
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
