FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0067.PDF
16 January 1953 65 LEONIDES ACTIVITIES A GOOD deal of interest has been occasioned by the announce ment, towards the end of last year, of plans to develop and build a 14-cylinder two-row Alvis radial to be known as the Leonides Major. Such a unit is required for both fixed-wing (A.LE.M. 1-1) and vertical-shaft (A.LE.M. 1-2) helicopter installation. In the meantime, the well-established nine-cylinder Leonides is being produced at an increasing rate as trainer and helicopter demands build up. Engine erection at Coventry, on mobile assembly stands, is the subject of one of the illustrations above (right). Two other activities concerning the testing of vertical-shaft Leonides are also depicted. The two top photographs are of a special winterization-test stand, seen after construction and, later, in use at the Ministry of Supply Winterization Experimental Establishment at Watson Lake, Yukon. Various tests of this kind have been going on for two years past—with credit to the Leonides, it is learned—but results are still being treated as confidential by the Ministry. Mr. P. H. Watson, Assistant Director of Aircraft Research and Development (Technical) is at the present time visiting the cold-weather station. In the lower left picture is shown what is believed to be the first bed designed to test a helicopter unit with shaft vertical. All the tests made on the normal types of horizontal bed can be carried out, and the special water-brake seen above the engine is a Heenan and Froude product. The particular engine is the Leonides 524/1 as used in Bristol helicopters.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
