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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 2222.PDF
FLIGHT, 21 December 1950 The Fairey-built Beta rocket motor hibited at the Farnborough Show. 605 " Flight " vhologravh a fuel pump and an %oxidiser pump.Starting the rocket unir 44 effected >r"* the application of an external source ofpressure—e.g., compressed air—to force some of the peroxide into the steam gene-rator. When the turbine-driven pumps have attained the requisite output, themain propellant valves are opened. A small amount of peroxide is continuallysupplied to the steam generator to keep the process going. The photograph illustrates the struc-tural composition of the unit, and the two combustion chambers can be seen oneabove the other at the left end. The tur- bine is situated at the opposite end, andthe two turbine exhaust-pipes can be seen running back along the unit to dischargethrough fishtail outlets alongside the upper chamber. The round multi-ported com-ponent roughly in the centre is the main peroxide distributing valve; the starting valves are not visible, as they are on theopposite side of the unit. They are stated to be of solenoid- operated type, and are based on German designs; it is also statedthat the valves arc normally open, so conserving electrical power demand, since continuous application of current is not necessaryto hold them open. The main fuel and oxidiser inlets are at the right-hand end, where the octagonal holes can be seen inthe auxiliary plate mounted on two supports above the main frame-bed. Crop-spraying in Canada Peace-time Work for Lysanders on the Western Prairies DURING the post-war years, the North American continenthas been the main proving-ground for one of the mostbeneficial uses of aircraft ever devised—the assistance of agriculture by sowing and fertilizing crops and destroyingpests. Hundreds of aircraft are to-day being used for such work by scores of operators; methods and applications arebeing improved almost daily. ; The experiences of one small Canadian company, WestlandSnraying Service, Ltd., are revealed by its president, Mr. J. R. Morgan, in the September issue of Canadian Aviation. Thisconcern operates four war-surplus Westland Lysanders (operator and manufacturer are not connected) and has been at work since1946. Two more aircraft are being equipped for spraying. The service is run on lines both businesslike and economi-cal. Farmers sign up in advance for spraying only if weeds op insects appear. They pay nothing until the fields havebeen sprayed—to their satisfaction. Three teams—each con- sisting of an aircraft, truck, car and caravan, manned by a pilot,field manager, field marker and truck driver—begin the season's work in the spring on the west-coast side of the U.S.-Canadianborder, moving northwards to work on farms to the orders of an agent ahead. The truck carries fuel and spares for the aircraftand the chemicals to be sprayed; supplies are replenished from the nearest bulk-distribution or freight-shipping point. The crew live in the caravan, and begin work at first light,before the wind has risen. For spraying, which is undertaken at an altitude of eight feet and a speed of 140 m.p.h., theLysanders are equipped with a spray-boom beneath the main- planes. They can cover 300 acres in 30 min. with one load ofliquid, and reloading and refuelling are accomplished in 15 min. The spray from each machine is calibrated annually after a test- END OF AN ERA The B.O.A.C.-operated, Short-built, Solent, registered G-AHIO and named "Somerset," is seen alighting on Belfast Lough on November 17th. This was the last B.O.A.C. Solent in service, and on its return to Belfast carried Capt. H. W. C. A/ger, lately Manager, B.O.A.C. No. A Line, and now in charge of the Princess flight at Hythe. Also aboard was Mr. ]. Lankester-Parker, a director of Short Brothers. flight over the Westland Service's headquarters at High River,when a 200ft line of glass strips is sprayed from various heights and at varying speeds. The number of spray-stains per squareinch of glass is then measured and the equipment adjusted, if necessary, accordingly. At each farm the field manager makes a chart of the areas tobe covered, marking obstructions and portions to be avoided. The pilot makes his spraying runs cross-wind on a line betweenthe truck driver and field marker, who station themselves at opposite sides of the field. The swathe from the aircraft is120 feet wide, so the two human target-indicators then pace the interval to a new line (making allowance for a suitable overlap)while the pilot rums for the next run. Any field of from 100 acres up, says Mr. Morgan, is suitablefor spraying, and the work is speeded up—and made more economical—if neighbouring farmers decide to group themselvestogether. A new activity for the aircraft is spraying lamp-black, or asimilar black substance, on snow-covered fields in the spring. The black surface of the snow then absorbs sufficient heat tomelt the top layer, which later freezes to form a thin crust of ice, so preventing evaporation of the snow beneath—and providingan extra four inches of moisture for the growing crop when the earth warms and "drinks-in the melt." Mr. Morgan quotes one very convincing example of hiscompany's work. Last year it took almost a week for a ground crew of eight men to spray ten miles of trees, on a memorialboulevard near Calgary, overrun with aphides and ants. This year the job was done in a few hours by one aircraft, whichmade four runs over each row of trees, spraying 3,000 Jb of benonite dust and nicorine mixture.
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