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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 1971.PDF
NOVEMBER 25TH, 1948 619 PRIMER PROGRESS Construction Begins at Hamble : Simplicity of Production INTRODUCTORY details and handling notes concerningthe new two-seat trainer, the Primer, which is nowbeing built by the Fairey Aviation Company, Ltd., at their Hamble works,,were given in the February 5, 1948, issue of Flight. Construction of the aircraft is at present being carried out on what is mainly a '' private venture '' basis in anticipation of an increased demand arising in the near future for this type of basic trainer in the R.A.F., and, as a part of this policy,"^ tooling and equipment for quantity production are being developed. It is also in- tended to offer the licence for building the aircraft abroad. Even a brief examination of the aircraft, a low-wing monoplane with tandem cockpits, reveals several interest- ._ ing features, notably an extremely simple welded tubular construction. The,= design should make the machine suit- able, for production even under conditions in which factory equipment-and skilled labour are limited, as may be the case in a country starting or developing an aircraft industry of its own. In the ordinary way, the construction of anaccurate tubular structure by fusion-welding calls for skilled welders and the adoption of special precautions to avoiddistortions set up by the considerable expansion and con- traction which occurs at the high temperatures required. This hindrance to manufacture with limited facilities hasbeen almost completely overcome by the adoption of Sif- bronze welding—a form of brazing which does not requiresuch high temperatures as the more general ferrous weld, and one which requires neither a high degree of skill norsubsequent heat-treatment. In the past, Sifbronze welding has been widely used by many of our leading constructors,but application has usually been confined to secondary- structure components. The possibilities of the processhave, however, been thoroughly investigated and devel- oped by Fairey's, with the result that it has been adoptedthroughout the structure of the Primer. It is significant that (luring tests on the process, none of the specimensfractured at the welds but invariably at posi- tions remote from them. The fuselage consists of a rectangular, War-ren-girder-type tubular structure with an inte- gral centre-section of similar construction; andthe external form is established by light second- ary structure which supports wooden stringersand fabric covering. On the sides of the fuselage the secondary structure consists of vertical,curved, tubular light-alloy members attached to the longerons top and bottom by split pins whichpick up simple plate-fittings welded to the longerons. These curved members form a basisfor the attachment of the stringers, which are secured in a somewhat unorthodox manner;they are tied to the curved members, at appro- priate spacings... by stout twine, the twine beingdrawn sufficiently tight to grip the stringers by friction against the members. The method isone which will, no doubt, startle students of (k'aign, but is, nevertheless, one which has A Primer undergoing overhauls with conversion to Cirrus Major engine installation. The aircraft shown has already completed 50 hours flying with a Gipsy Major.
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