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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1102.PDF
254 FLIGHT AUTO PILOT FUEL TANK GUIDED MIDGET M.L. Aviation's Radio-controlled Target Aircraft I T has long been appreciated that the present method of towing sleeve targets behind a piloted aircraft for the benefit of anti-aircraft gunners leaves much to be desired. Among the many inherent disadvantages may be mentioned the fact that towing must be done in an approximately straight line (even then only with concentration on the part of the crew of the tug) and at a speed and altitude which restrict the range of conditions attainable. Equally important, perhaps, is the psychological discomfort of the tug crew, which makes their task an unpopular one. Simple, radio-controlled aircraft have long been used by many countries as targets (e.g., the famous D.H. Queen Bee of the 1930s) and it is of interest to examine an exceptionally neat target by M.L. Aviation Ltd., of White Waltham, Berks. This air craft, an early version of which was shown on the company's stand at last year's S.B.A.C. Show, is designed to simulate the behaviour of aircraft flying much higher and faster. It is radio-controlled, and can be flown out of sight of the ground, its position being recorded on a P.P.I, tube. Work on the design has been proceeding steadily during the past two years. Ministry of Supply specification U.120D called for a radio-controlled pilotless aircraft which would provide a manoeuvrable airborne target for ground-to-air gunnery, radar plotting practice and similar uses. The design evolved by M.L. Aviation to meet *S*SS&JW*. this requirement consists of an all-metal high-wing monoplane, powered by a modified Vincent motor-cycle engine which drives a fixed-pitch wooden tractor airscrew. The vee-tail of the early models (such as the one shown at Farnborough last year) ha"s more recently been replaced by a conventional twin-fin unit, with a full-span elevator surface, both tailplane and fins being of simple rectangular shape. No rudder is fitted. The airframe, of stressed-skin aluminium alloy construction, is manufactured in three sections, easily joined or detached. These sections comprise the one-piece wing, fitted with short-span ailerons; the main fuselage centre-section; and the rear fuselage and tail unit. As shown in the drawing, the fuselage is divided into five compartments housing various items of equipment. The first bay contains the electrical connections panel, master relays, switches, battery and similar equipment. Behind this is the 5.3-gallon fuel tank and the delivery pump, while the third cornpartmsnt is reserved for special equipment such as tele metering devices. The radio receiver and the specially designed autopilot are installed in the fourth bay. The rear compartment contains a charged CO 2 bottle and a folded flotation bag, over which is the packed Irving "trefoil" triple parachute. The rigging lines of the parachute are attached, above the e.g., to three steel cables supporting the aircraft in a level attitude during descent. Normally closed, the two-piece, spring-hinged cowling of the parachute bay is thrust open by the rapid emergence of the parachute should the spherical flotation bag be inflated, in response to a radio signal or emergency actuation (described later). The flotation bag ensures buoyancy should descent occur into water, and an air-filled shock-absorbing cushion, which expands as the parachute is released, is fitted below the fuselage to reduce damage should the aircraft land on a hard surface. There is no mechanical control system. Plug-and-socket elec trical connections are used throughout, ensuring easy uncoupling for replacement or testing. The entire target is constructed on the interchangeable-unit plan, each item being self-contained and quickly replaced should a fault develop during use. The power On the left is seen an M.L. target about to be retrieved from the desert; the flotation bag and parachute lines are evident. The power plant (right) shows such features as the fuel feed and filter, the starter dog and the chain case to the airscrew gearbox.
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