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Aviation History
1946
1946 - 2138.PDF
454 FLIGHT OCTOBER 24TH, 1946 ROTOL DEVELOPMENTS to a slinger ring mounted on the rear of the hub, whence itis delivered by centrifugal action to the blade roots through small feed pipes. This system is basically sound and remainsunchanged, but as the spread of fluid over the leading edge needs conducting, a development of the Goodrich overshoesystem has been adopted as an adjunct. The leading edge of each blade has cemented to it a neoprenesynthetic-rubber shoe in the form of a carefully designed tapering strip grooved throughout its length. At the rootof each shoe is an inverted cup or trough—also of neoprene— into which the feed* pipes deliver the de-icing fluid; severalholes through the cup direct the fluid into the grooves where it is carried out along the leading edge by centrifugal forceand overflows on to the blade. In the original system, the feed pipes were positioned forthe cruisiDg pitch setting of the blades, and thus permitted of no flexibility in coverage. But the new development ofthe grooved shoe and inverted cup ensures that, no matter what the pitch position of the blade, the fluid can continue to be directed to the leading edge. The system has been introduced on the Rotol airscrews fitted to' the Bristol Wayfarers and Vickers Vikings operated by British European Airways. (Below) Detail of synthetic rub- ber cup and feeder groove overshoe cemented to blade. (Left) A blade for the Vickers Vikingshowing extent and relative size of de- icing overshoe. Aircraft Disposals Ministry of Supply Sales of Surplus Equipment FOR some months past sales of surplusR.A.F. aircraft and engines have •been taking place at airfields allover the country. Considerable interest has been shown in these sales, but because of the remote location of many of these airfields, and the lack ofdetailed information concerning the condition of aircraft or conditions of sale, many people, although interested, have nottaken an active part or submitted a tender. The system whereby would-be purchasers must submit offers, and the fact that theselling prices are withheld, has deterred others. From the sales point of view the tender plan is probably a good one, and ofcourse it is the job of the Ministry of Supply to get as good a price as possible. Details of the purpose to which aircraft would be put mustaccompany all offers. It seems, however, that the potential cus- tomer with the best intentions but making a lower offer wouldnot usually get the goods. The best offer generally secures the sale. The market varies considerably, and an occasion might occurwhere ^650 would secure, say, a Hornet Moth at one sale while at a later one £900'would be required. Recently Flight visited some airfields to view aircraft fordisposal Well-known models likely to have general appeal were chosen for examination, and they included Magisters.Dominies., Whitney Straights, Ansons, Queen Bees (for spares only), etc. The majority of these were situated at R.A.F,station Kemble, Glos, together with a large number of other aircraft such as Lancasters, some of which are also " for sale." As might be expected, the condition of the machines varieda great deal, but important points in answer to those who have suggested that a lot of junk is offered for sale were thatall the complete aircraft had been-flown in during the previous six or seven weeks and all had been properly inhibited andstored in hangars. With few exceptions, it should be quite simple +o obtain a temporary C. of A. to fly them away fordelivery. Some aircraft brought in by road must go out the same way. They are offered as incomplete or dismantled. Rapides in the sales hangar at R.A.F. station, Kemble, Gloucestershire. Blind-flying panels are removed for storage but are sold withthe aircraft. Essentially Service equipment is removed. To quote from the " Conditions of Sale "—" Aircraft and aero-engines will be sold as lying with no guarantee as to condition, serviceability or airworthiness." During the period allowed for inspection the Service logbooks of all aircraft are available for examination and checking of hours, overhauls, modifications incorporated, etc., but ondelivery, after sale, a civilian log book is raised and the Service one despatched to Records. Most ot the all-metal aircraft, and also the very largemachines sach as tne Hamilcar Is offered at R.A.F. station Honey bourn, are stored outside.Facilities offered by airfields to purchasers are necessarily limited, but petrol and oil may be obtained and in mosta crane is available to help in loading if the purchase is be shipped away. Once the period open for tenders h«.selapsed, results are made known within about two weeks. It is almost impossible to give even a. general idea of whatthe cost of a C. of A. would be on an aircraft bought in this way, but for the 2-3-seater Gipsy Major-engined types, otherthan Tiger Moths (which, incidentally, are being bought in numbers by the Royal Navy), purchasers of light aircraft atprevious sales and in the open market have quoted figures varying as widely as ^75 and ^600 as the cost of their Cs. of A.It is fairly certain that very few have been less than the lower figure, although a more normal top figure would be £350. For individual requirements outside the aircraft and acces-sories offered at these sales, the procedure is to write to the Director ot Disposals (Air), at Thames House, Millbank,London, S.W.i. It is stressed, however, that single orders would have to be of a substantial nature to receive individualattention in this manner.
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