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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0568.PDF
562 FLIGHT, I May 1953 CORRESPONDENCE The Editor of "Flight" does not hold himself responsible for the views expressed by correspondents in these columns; the names and jxddresses of the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters. One of the Fox Moths mentioned below. Heavy Fuels for Gas Turbines YOUR summary (Flight, April 10th) of the article, Heavy Fuels for Turbines, which appeared in the March number of Shell Aviation News raises several interesting points. The use of diesel fuel, with its initial cloud-point around 0 deg C. does, as you suggest, raise certain complications, and this aspect has received some consideration in a study made of the operation of a Nomad-engined aircraft with this fuel. The conditions which would occur in flight do suggest that some form of fuel heating would be required, but in the case of the Nomad the problem is of considerably smaller dimensions than that for the jet engine, for two reasons. Firstly, we would be using a circulating fuel system, which would ensure circulation of fuel through the tanks at a rate two or three times that of the engine demands. Secondly, the Nomad engine has coolant and oil radiators and a simple heat-exchanger of small dimensions would be quite sufficient to provide any additional heating not already supplied by the circulating fuel system. Incidentally, it does not seem feasible to "freeze" the fuel before use so as to remove the wax, because this would merely result in the composition of the fuel being changed to, say, a kero- sine or a gasoline, dependent on the treatment given. Apart from the above arguments, the fact that the Nomad- engined aircraft would cruise at about 30,000ft, compared with the jet aircraft cruising at 40,000ft, would also reduce the magni tude of the problem somewhat, although it is admitted that some of the apparent benefit would be lost, due to the higher tempera ture-rise from skin-friction in the case of the jet aircraft (by reason of its higher cruising speed). The other problem which occurs with diesel fuel is the need to keep aircraft tanks (and, particularly, fuel feed pipe-lines) warm when the aircraft is parked out under Arctic conditions. One solution which appears practicable would be to extend the engine-heating arrangements to cover the fuel feed pipe also— this pre-supposes that an engine-heater would be used to ensure satisfactory cold starting. Alternatively, the fuel-feed pipe could be heated electrically, provided some ground equipment, in the shape of a motor-generator set, was available. In our opinion, a satisfactory solution to the use of diesel fuel under low-temperature conditions can be found, without material sacrifice in performance. D. NAPIER AND SON, LTD., London, W.3. C. D. Carmichael, Asst. Chief Engineer, Piston Engine Division. Ageless Fox Moths WHILE re-reading the January 2nd issue of Flight, my atten tion was again drawn to reader Drinkwater's letter on D.H. old timers, which has prompted this letter. It concerns another stalwart of that family—the old Fox Moth. Ever since 1936 or thereabouts, on my visits to Southport dur ing the summer (barring war-time), I can't ever remember failing to see G-ACEJ "on the beat," pleasure flying—just about the most evergreen aeroplane I've had the satisfaction of knowing, especially considering I was no more than a tender 10 or 11 years of age when I first noticed it. But what gave me the greatest sur prise and biggest kick was the arrival last summer of a second Fox Moth, G-ACCB, which from then on shared with 'EJ the heavy flying programme demanded for the remainder of the "season." They are both in fine condition, and watching these great little machines using the expanse of foreshore for their natty take-offs and landings puts one in quite an old-world atmosphere. I believe these two are the only remaining Foxes to be found in the British Register. Liverpool, 18. A. W. JESSE. Commercial Tip-Tanks ? THE tip-tanks of the Cessna 310 (Flight, March 27th, 1953, page 413) are a feature I have for some time thought would be ideal in a Rapide replacement. The installation appears to have three great advantages. The aerodynamic advantage of higher effective aspect-ratio with reduced induced drag and mop lift; and extra space permitting retraction of the undercarriage into the wing—these you have mentioned, but there appears to be another. If the aircraft can equal the record of safety of the Rapide, very few will crash, but if a crash does occur, a fire risk is present, whether the aircraft has piston or turbine engines, and the tip tank appears more vulnerable than one integral with the wing. It would be interesting to learn how many fighters in crashes catch fire because of external tanks, particularly the ventral tank of the Meteor, which seems to make a belly landing fatal unless jetti soned in time. Similarly, with all fuel in the tip tanks, although it is as far as possible from the fuselage, an exploding tank will almost certainly envelop the cabin; but if these tanks are jetti- sonable, they could, when the aircraft is not over populated areas, be dropped when a forced landing was imminent, to do their napalm act at a safe distance from the aircraft., Cambridge. MORRIS J. CATHERWOOD. INDUSTRY IN BRIEF The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company's aviation division have recently instructed Heenan and Froude, Ltd., of Worcester, to design and build a large test-plant for aircraft wheels and tyres in their factory at Wallasey, Cheshire. * * * Dexion, Ltd., manufacturers of Dexion slotted angle material for works equipment and structural purposes, have opened a Scottish office at 20 Renfrew Street, Glasgow. . * * * Wallington Weston and Co., Ltd. (incorporating Frome Plastics, Ltd.), of Frome, Somerset, have appointed Mr. J. C. Houghton as their Northern and Midland representative, with offices at 8 Gordon Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham. * * * Sheepbridge Engineering Ltd., Chesterfield, announce that, following the transference of their group sales office from London to Chesterfield, Mr. M. M. Hallett (formerly research and develop ment manager) has been appointed director of sales with the object of ensuring complete technical service to customers. * * * Chamberlain Industries, Ltd., Staffa Works, London E.io, provide details of their prefabricated aluminium buildings, the sizes of which range from 30ft to 56ft spans, with wall heights of from 12ft to 15ft. Length is in multiples of 10ft, and over 75 per cent of the structure is in standard components. * * * A new technical publication by the Northern Aluminium Co., Ltd., Banbury, Oxon, is entitled : Noral Sheet Products—Part I, and gives the size limits and manufacturing tolerances for the sheet and plate produced by the company. This information was previously contained in The Noral Handbook, Section 3; manu facturing limits have since been considerably extended, and the new book provides current data in a convenient form. * * * In a recent reference, to Marconi radio equipment (in "Thoughts on the Gnat," p. 426, April 3rd) it should have been made clear that the ground equipment mentioned is the AD. 200; the AD. 7092A is actually airborne equipment. May May May 7. 9-10. 13. May 14-17. May 14-22. May May May 16. 20. 21. May 23-25. May May May May May May May June June June June 33. ;s. 2S. 25. 29. 30. 30. 5-7. 6. 7. 11. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Pathfinder Association and Club: Annual Dinner. Aero Club du Finistere: Brest and Cote des Legended Rally. R.Ae.S. Chester Branch: Annual General Meeting. American Helicopter Society: Forum, Washington. F.A.I.: 46th Annual Conference, The Hague. Wolverhampton Aero Club: Goodyear Trophy Race and Display. Aircraft Recognition Society: "Supersonic Flight Problems," by Prof. A. A. Hall, M.A., F.R.Ae.S. R.Ae.S.: All-day Meeting on Aeronautical Acoustics (jointly with the Acoustics Group of the Physical Society). Aero-Club d'Epernay: Champagne Rally. Derby Aero Club: Display. S.S.A.F.A.: Display, Yeadon. Air Display, Elmdon, Birmingham. Women's Junior Air Corps: Display, White Waltham. R.Aux.A.F.: Officers' Coronation Ball, London. Auster Flying Club: Ragosine-Auster Homing Trophy. Swansea and District Flying Club: Display and Race. Yorkshire Aeroplane Club: International Rally. Leicestershire Aero Club: Coronation Air Display. Aero-Club d'ltalia: Rome Grand Prix. R.Ae.S.: Ninth British Commonwealth and Empire Lecture, "Problems in Development of Air Transport in West Africa," by Sir Hubert Walker, C.B.E.
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