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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0925.PDF
604 FLIGHT MAY I9TH, 1949 CORRESPONDENCE Hie Editov does not hold himself responsible for the views expressed by correspondents. The names and addresses of the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters. PIONEER SQUADRONS Last Word (or an ex-CO. of No. 1 AT the risk of boring you and being accused of flogging deadhorses, I must point out to "Fitter HE" (April 28th) that I made no comparison between Nos. 2 and 3 Squadrons. I referred to the.premier squadron of the R.F.C.—which is, of course, the premier squadron of the R.A.F. Perhaps if I were to breathe the words: " In Omnibus Prin- ceps" he would understand. I must accuse him, therefore, of being "in nubibus " ! H. R. ALLEN, S/L. The Hague, Holland. [We consider the horse, if not dead, at any rate unfit for further punishment.—ED.] v ENGINE NACELLES A Reader Questions Departure frown the Underslung Position HTHE various artists' impressions, and photographs of models, J- depicting the Bristol 175 have shown the engine nacelles to extend appreciably above the top of the mainplane, in so far that at least harf of the nacelle appears to protrude above the upper surface of the wing. I have always been under the impression that the most efficient mounting for the engine was the "underslung" position beneath the main plane, or, in other words, an instal- lation similar to that in the Lancaster, Mosquito, Ambassador, Hermes, York, and Bristol Freighter. Whilst I realize that the Ambassador and Freighter are high- wing monoplanes which do not present limitations in airscrew ground clearances, I should be grateful if some information could be forthcoming explaining the proposed installation in the 175, because it would appear that the protruding nacelles must upset the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing surfaces. Is there a special reason for this type of installation or have ideas on the subject altered? Clifton, Bristol. LEONARD THORNHILL. [The aircraft named by our correspondent is not the only example in which such an arrangement appears. There are a number of conditioning factors which may justify it, such as considerations of undercarriage-stowage.—Ed.] WATER WITH IT An Arguable Point About Flying-boat Take-offs F your May 12th issue, when referring to the Sunderland'ssorties on the Yangtse, it is stated that the flying boat " was forced to take-off down-wind, and down a 7-kt current." This appears to me to infer that the current is regarded as an adverse factor, and although in fact that may well be true, so far as I am able to reason the opposite would appear to be the case. As I see it, the down-wind current would -be the equivalent of a 7-kt head wind relative to the aircraft in still air con- ditions of take-off. That is to say, assuming, for example, that the down-wind velocity was, in fact, 14 kt, it means that this was effectively reduced to 7 kt. I .believe it is true that, in taking-off, a flying boat gets "up on the step" and, hydrodynamically speaking, is ready for take-off some time before it actually does part company with the water. With the aircraft having risen up on the step, drag is reduced to a nominal minimum, and the power is then available further to accelerate the aircraft to take-off speed. Thus it would appear that the sooner the hull can be lifted to the planing position, the sooner will the take-off be effected, for although the "step" to take-off interval will be tbe same, the overall time will be reduced. The effective reduction of down-wind disadvantage given by the 7-kt current should surely, to my way of thinking, reduce the time between starting and planing. I should be happy to have my views of this (apparently) controversial point either upheld or disproved. It would seem all to depend on how much help is given by wing lift in getting the hull up on the step. BARRIE ALDBURY. London, W.i. AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERS "Redundancy ... a By-word in B.O.A.C. and B.E.A." BRITISH Civil Aviation is being bled white of the skilledaircraft engineering workers without whom we shall soon find it impossible to operate an efficient air-transport industiy. Most people in the industry know that redundancy has become something of a by-word in B.O.A.C. and B.E.A., and, speaking for myself, I know that 1 have had to find jobs for hundreds of people paid-off by these two corporations. By this means, the hard core of skilled workpeople has been kept in the industry, but I very much fear we have reached a period when this action will no longer be possible. Already I know of several engineers—some of them holding extensive licences, and some with 10 or 15 years' constant civil aviation experience behind them—who have in the last few months left*aviation for good and have gone into such jobs as those of ice-cream machinery mechanics, motor mechanics, marine engineers, and so forth. The worst part of it is that they are unanimous in that, having got out of the madhouse which is British civil aviation, they would not come back into it at any price. Just now, I am considering the probable effects of the ending of the Berlin Air Lift. This operation has employed hundreds of personnel and, if they are returned to this country, there art- just not enough jobs to absorb them under the present state of affairs. I do not want to make any • suggestion to the Government department which could probably solve this problem; indeed, if I did, you may rest assured that whatever I suggested would be carefully filed at Ariel House under the heading of "Sug- gestions not to be adopted at any cost." The point is, unless something is done, and done promptly, the air transport in- dustry in this country will degenerate to an even lower stage oi bedraggled improvization. J. H. STEVENSON, Croydon, Surrey. General Secretary, Aeronautical Engineers' Association. FORTHCOMING EVENTS May list.—Northamptonshire Aero Club : 21st Anniversary Air Display. May 21st.—Aero Golfing Society : Summer meeting and " Flight "Trophy. Ashridge Course. May 26th and 27th.—National Physical Laboratory : " Open Days " May 26th for representatives of industrial organizations and May 27th for members of university staffs and govern- ment departments. May 28th.—Wp'verhampton Aero Club : " At Home " and Air Display, May 29th.—Leicestershire Aero Club : Air Day and " At Home," Ratdiffe airfield. June 1st.—R.Ae.S. (Luton) : Discussion evening. June 1st.—R.Ae.S. (Weybrtdge) : Annual General Meeting. June 4th to 6th.—Bembridge and Sandown Aero Club : Flying Week-end. June 4th-6th.—Aero Club d'Epernay : Third International Air Rally. (Private invitations.) June I Ith and 12th.—Royal Air Forces Association : Annual Conference, Margate. June I Ith to 17th.—R.A.F. Small Arms Association: the 23rd Annual Championship Meeting. June I Ith.—Darlington and District Aero Club : Air Display, Croft airfield. June llch to 13th.—Yorkshire Aeroplane Club : International and Club Invitation Rally. June 12th to 19th.—Italian International Air Week, Rimini and Venice. June 16th to luly 2nd—Royal Tournament, Olympia. June 18th.—R.Ae.S. (Brough) : Flying meeting and Cirrus Trophy race Brough. June 18th and I9th.=AeroClubde Basse Normandie: Flers de I'Orne Rally. June 19th.—Air League of the British Empire (Portsmouth) : Garden Party, The Airport, Portsmouth. June 22nd to 24th.—Institute of Transport : Congress at Buxton. June 26th.—Northern Heights Model Flying Club : Gala Day, Hawker airfield, Langley, Bucks. June 26th co July 3rd.—Aero Club d'ltalia : International Air Week, Milan. July 1st,—R.A.F. Golfing Society : Summer Meeting at Moor Park Club, Herts. July 2nd.—R.N. Air Station, Lossiemouth: "Open Day" and Flying Display. July 2nd to 4th.—Royal Aero Club : Private air rally at Deauville. Guests of M. Andre. July 2nd to 10th.—Tour de France Aerien. July 4th to I Ith.—Royal Aero Club : Private Air rally to Spain. July 9th.—Redhill Flying Club : Garden Party. July 16th and 17th.—Royal Aero Club : Private air rally at Le Baule, St. Nazaire. Guests of Mme. Andri. July 23rd.—" Daily Express " Air Pageant, Gatwick Airport. July 30th to Aug. 1st.—King's Cup Race and National Air Race's, Elmdon Airport, Birmingham. :•• -4
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