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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0268.PDF
FLIGHT FEBRUARY IOTH, 1949 (Left) The handling trolley for the oleo legs in its transport position. (Below) The trolley in position for attaching the leg to the airframe. Very accurate positioning was necessary involving angular and relational control. Giant's Ancillanes and fitting them in place. Although large in area, and fairly solid-looking objects, these control sur- faces are fragile when it comes to handling, and cannot be picked up just anywhere without risk of damage. There is the question of suitable sling- ing points., mostly confined to the hinges of the surfaces. And although initial assembly was done in the hangar at Filton, provision had to be made for servicing, and. even possibly replacement, in the open when away from base. This might mean winds strong enough to make handling.,dimcult, with consequent chance of damage. . - . v In watching' the finished Brabazon such.,-considerations The resilient tow bar being attached to the front oleo of the Brabazon. are not immediately obvious to the onlooker, but mention of some of the ground equipment designed and manufac- tured by Folland Aircraft will serve to indicate the scope of the work. Transport trolleys for undercarriage gear, outer wing, rudder, elevators, ailerons and flaps. Slinging gear for wings, flaps, ailerons, elevators and rudder. Slings for aileron and elevator power units; towing gear; servicing platforms for airscrews, engines and control surfaces; wing and tail steadies, and sundry tools and trestles. This does not exhaust the list, but covers the main items. . • 'i- Studied Simplicity The requirements for this equipment were laiddown by Bristols, B.O.A.C. and the Ministry of Supply, and Folland Aircraft prepared schemes forapproval before starting design and manufacture. Bearing in mind that much of this equipment mighthave to be duplicated overseas when the Brabazon goes into service, simplicity and ease of manufac-ture were basic considerations. In the case of the framework of the various trolleys, for instance, com-mercial rolled steel joints were used, gas cutting was employed, and assembly was by electric welding.For the servicing platforms, etc., plain commercial scaffold tubing and fittings were chosen for all ex-cept the very tall rudder platform, in which a cer- tain amount of aircraft tubing was used. The very plain nature of the materials used in theconstruction of this equipment tends to give a false An inner wing flap in its cradle for transport and stowage. B 24
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