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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0141.PDF
FEBRUARY 26, 1910. (pWr) in order to cut the air with little resistance. They are of pine, of the Baldwyn's Park type, which is common to nearly all machines at present, but a new feature has been introduced. As the screws are not strong enough by themselves to stand the thrust without being distorted and broken, they are held back by strong steel strips ^s in. thick, and about 1J in. wide. These strips, having the same pitch as the blades themselves, also act as a screw propeller, cutting the air keenly, and being very efficient. The screws are therefore held in position, their blades can neither be twisted nor deformed, and there is nothing to prevent their cutting through the air with the least possible resistance. By this means a very large amount of air can be engaged—a great deal more than has ever been engaged before per h.p.—therefore there would be less slip than with any other system so far invented. Moreover, the resistance required for driving the machine through the air would be less, because everything is much sharper and smoother than in any other machine I have ever seen, but unfortu nately a large and level field is not obtainable near the Crayford Gun Works at the present moment. True, land can be obtained, but it costs a lot to get it and to level it off and protect it, so I have devised a new system of testing—one that I think is quite different from anything suggested before. I have constructed a tarred sand circular track, having a circum ference of 2,200 ft. This track is 25 ft. wide, and in the centre I have erected a steel mast, to which I propose to attach a steel ® ® PROGRESS OF FLIGHT Aeronautical Society of Great Britain(53> VICTORIA ST., S.W.). THE annual general meeting of the Aeronautical Society will be held at the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall, S.W., on Friday, March 18th, at 7.30 p.m. Members only will be admitted on production of their brass badges. The proceedings will be followed by the first meeting of the 45th Session at 8.30 p.m., when Mr. F. W. Headley, the eminent naturalist, will deliver a lecture, illustrated with lantern slides, on "The Flight of Birds." Ticket holders will be admitted to the theatre on the conclusion of the annual general meeting. The Society's new badge has been struck in bronze, silver, and gold ; and members desirous of obtaining it are requested to com municate with the Assistant Secretary. The Society's reception room for members at the March Aero Show at Olympia will be situated between the Annexe and the Main Hall, facing Messrs. Sidney Smith's stand. Kite-Flying Association (27, VICTORV ROAD, WIMBLEDON). THE general meeting will be held on Monday, 28th inst.,at •Caxton Hall, Westminster, when the Vice-President, Mr. W. H. Dines, will read a paper on " Kite Flying at the Chief Official Station of the Meteorological Office, Pyrton Hill, Oxfordshire." Other important business will be the discussion to change the name of the Association to the Model Aeroplane and Kite-Flying Association. The following gentlemen have been nominated on Council:—Messrs. T. W. Clarke, Fleming Williams, and T. O'B. Hubbard, in addition to present Council, which have been re nominated with three exceptions. Patrick Y. Alexander, Esq., has also been nominated as a Vice-President. Motor Union (Aviation Section). (CAXTON HOUSE, S.W.) To those who are interested in the construction of aeroplanes, •a unique opportunity for inspecting the works of the most famous French manufacturers will be afforded at Easter by the Aviation Section of the Motor Union. The Committee are planning a visit to Paris and have already received permission from the following firms to visit their workshops:—Neubauer and M. Farman, A. Darracq and Co., L. Chauviere, Societe des Moteurs Gnome, Dutheil, Chalmers and Cie., Robert Esnault-Pelterie, Antoinette Co., and Clement-Bayard Co. Scottish Aeronautical Society (185, HOPE STREET, GLASGOW). ON Wednesday, the 16th inst., at the Philosophical Society's Lecture Room, Mr. E. V. A. Willett, B.Sc, gave the first of a series of lectures which have been arranged for the spring months. His subject was " Air Pressure on Planes." The subjects of the other lectures will be : —ii. " The Curve Plane and its Application to Flying Machines"; iii. "Flight as an Engineering Problem (Elementary Functions of an Aeroplane") ; iv. " Stability (Directional, Longitudinal, Transverse ") ; v. " Propellers " ; vi. "Design." wire rope about 35 ft. from the ground, and to hold this rope up by very fine wires from another support over 100 ft. high. The steel wire will have attached to it three branches, which will take hold of the machine in three places, and in this way the machine will be held on an even keel, as far as relates to "port" and "starboard," but will be free to move forward, to ascend and descend ; and will also be free to depress or elevate the forward end, that is, every movement which is necessary to make when testing a machine is obtained, while the machine is prevented from flying off at a tangent. It will therefore be possible not only to try the working of the engine, the cooling effect of the air, the propulsion of the screws, the lifting effect of the aeroplanes, the balancing of the weights, and, in fact, everything connected with' the working of the machine, without any danger whatsoever of injury to the pilot or breakage, while it affords a unique opportunity fo» the pilot to learn to manipulate all the necessary steering-gear, and so forth, and it is very evident that after this has been done for a certain length of time, the machine may be connected with a single wire, so as to find out if all the other movements are completely under control, and after this free flight ought to be quite simple and safe. At any rate, a circular track will always afford a very simple manner of teaching men to fly, because they can do it without danger to themselves or to the machine. ® ® ABOUT THE COUNTRY. Sheffield Aero Club (36, COLVER ROAD, SHEFFIELD). A PUBLIC general meeting was held on the 16th inst. Owing no doubt to the inauspicious weather the attendance was only' moderate. The rules and club badges being ready, a large number.' of these were disposed of, the charge for the latter being 2s. 6d. each, cost price, to members only. They were much admired both from their appearance and originality of design. It was announced that works had been taken, and as soon as the necessary alterations had been made;' would be opened +0' the members. They are large and central, and fitted for the work. It is proposed to put a full-size machine in hand at once. The model flying competition scheme, in connection With the Sheffield Charity Tournament on Whit Monday, was discussed. A sum of £15 has been voted towards the prize fund, which should prove a big induce ment. Some 20 models have been entered, varying in size from the minimum considered advisable—4 ft. spread—to several io ft. spread engine-driven machines. The secretary requests members to attend the meetings as regularly as possible, as much important work will be discussed at the next few meetings. The next general meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 2nd, at 8 p.m., at the Deaf and Dumb Institute (near Hippodrome), Upper Charles Street, City. All interested persons are cordially invited. S.W.England Aeronautical Soc(5i, ST.LEONARD'SRD.,E. SHEEN) THE next general meeting will be held on Sunday, March 6th, at the Ship Hotel, Bridge Road, Hammersmith. The monoplane is now nearing completion, and certainly has a most promising appearance. Members willing to assist should attend any night at the club's aero works, Down Place, King Street, Hammersmith. Sir William Bull, M.P., has recently showed his appreciation of the club's work by accepting the position of a Vice- President. Entrants for the model competition should remember that Messrs. A. J. Fransella, J. Furley-Smith, and J. L. Warsop are offering prizes, as well as the prize and several certificates from the society itself. Prominent gentlemen will judge, and competitors should send in their entries at once. Entrance fee, is. Every model entered, is. Sd. •Women's Aerial League (227, STRAND, W.C.). THE second of a series of aerial teas given by the Women's Aerial League will take place on Thursday, March 3rd, at 3 o'clock, in the Victoria Hall, Criterion Restaurant. There will be short speeches on aviation, and some excellent music. Miss Dorothy Levitt will give an account of her experiences learning to fly in France, and Miss Sheila O'Neill is expected to bring a model which she has built. Mrs. Monde is acting as hostess, and among those ladies who are presiding at tables and bringing guests are the Lady O'Hagan, Mrs. Sydney Lacon, Mrs. Roy-Batty, Mrs. Percy White, Mrs. Hughes Hughes, Mrs. Watt Smith, Mrs. Steuart Erskine, and Mrs. Simpson. The dates of lectures for the Boys' and Girls' Aerial League, by Mr. Blin Desbleds and Miss Gertrude Bacon, will be announced shortly. NOTE.—Addresses, temporary or permanent, follow in each case the names of .the clubs, where communications of our readers can be addressed direct to the Secretary. We would ask Club Secretaries in future to see that the notes regarding their Clubs reach the Editor of FLIGHT, 44, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C., by 12 noon on Wednesday at latest.) 137
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