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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0103.PDF
.FEBRUARY IO, 1921 tered owners of aircraft, who are expected to pass them on to their ground engineers. " It is here urged that ground engineers and aircraft operators generally should suggest matter for such Notices. Experience with any particular type of aircraft or engine usually brings to light the little troubles to which it is par- ticularly prone. Such experience gained by the larger companies operating a number of machines would be of value to the owner or operator of a single machine of the same type, and in many cases to owners of machines of similar types, and could often be published as ' Notices to Ground Engineers ' with advantage. " Occasionally particular points of weakness only become apparent after more or less prolonged use or as the result of an accident. When such cases come to light the certificates of airworthiness for all machines of the type in question are suspended until such time as the defect has been remedied. Information of such suspensions is issued as a / Notice to Ground Engineers.' Once the ground engineer's attention has been drawn to a point of weakness it is sometimes possible to permit the aircraft to fly until temporary or permanent replacement has been made without taking the machine out of service. " (5) The insurance of aircraft is already of such importance as to call for a separate paper, and on this occasion it is only proposed to touch on one aspect, that of the relation of the ground engineer to the insuring company. So far as the Air Navigation Regulations are concerned, the ground engi- neer is only required to certify that the aircraft is in every way safe for flight. The risk of insuring any aircraft is governed to a large extent by the following points, all of which have to be taken into consideration :— " (a) The design and primary standard of construction of the aircraft. '' (b) The condition of the aircraft when setting out for the flight. " (c) The nature of the flight and the proposed load. " (d) The skill and experience of the pilot, particularly with regard to the particular journey undertaken. " (e) The meteorological conditions at the time of the journey. " Of these factors the second is that which concerns the ground engineer. It may often, therefore, be his duty not only to maintain that minimum standard insisted upon by his supervisors, but a higher standard which may be laid down by his employers, by the reputation for which they may obtain advantageous insurance terms. " (6) It is suggested that it may be found necessary to consider the formation of a superior grade of ground engineer. It is already probable that a large operating company would find it desirable to place their ground engineers under the control of one man who had higher technical qualifications and ability than are required for the ordinary ground engineer. Such a man would go far towards ensuring the reliability of any service and would advance the status of ' ground engineering ' nearer to that which must be attained if these men are to safeguard adequately the aerial transport of the future." In two appendices the lecturer gave a list of " Notices to Ground Engineers " (which have been published in FLIGHT), and results of examinations of ground engineers, which showed that out a total of 664 applicants, 509 were passed and licensed up to December 31, 1920, of which 26 per cent, were operating and under supervision during 1920. R.A.F. Reservists IT is officially stated that men belonging to Class E, R.A.F. Reserve, are not eligible for enlistment with the Territorial Force ; but it has been agreed by the Air Ministry that, in the case of such reservists who have already enlisted into Territorial Force units, such enlistments may stand as special cases. No. 2 Aircraft Depot A REUNION dinner was held on February 4 at the Cock Tavern, Fleet Street, Col. C. G. Smith being in the chair. At the dinner, to which 27 guests attended, No. 2 A.D. Officers' Association was formed. All particulars of this Association can be obtained from Mr. J. D. Fairbairn, Hillsborough, Cromwell Avenue, Bromley, Kent. Another Aerodrome Taken Over FORTY acres of the aerodrome ground and sheds at Huck" nall, Notts, have been sold to the Mansfield Engineering Company, who intend establishing there a wagon-building works. The W.O.is still going strong, as it is stated that the War Office have a retaining clause that if hostilities break out they shall once more have possession of the site. So it looks as if after all Dora one of these days may be expected to succumb to old age. Auction at a Scottish Air Station BY direction of the Disposals Board, Messrs. J. and R. Edmiston, auctioneers, Glasgow, have sold by auction the plant, machinery, sheds, etc., at Luce Bay Air Station. There was a large attendance from all parts of the country, and bidding was keen. The large airship shed found a purchaser at £2,750, four wind-screens brought £196 each, and a 40 h.p. marine type paraffin and petrol motor-engine £265. Lloyd's Pilots' Book Record LLOYD'S have now issued a Record Book of all aircraft pilots who hold British civil aviation pilots' licences. The book is similar in form to the Aircraft Record Book, which has already made its appearance. A separate page in the book is devoted to the particulars of each pilot. Details are given of the pilot's name, address, date of birth, licence type and No., dates between which it is valid, a record of general flying experience, accidents, date of last medical examination, and the types of aircraft for which he is licensed to fly. The Pilots' Record Book may be inspected by any person interested, on application to the Secretary of Lloyd's Aviatidb Record, Lloyd's, Royal Exchange, London, E.C.3. New Zealand Island Flight FROM the High Commissioner for New Zealand the in- formation is announced that the first aeroplane flight from the South Island of New Zealand to Stewart Island has been successfully accomplished. France and the Air-Budget FOR 1921 a good round sum is being asked for by the aviation departments of our Ally, totalling to over 527 millions of francs. The Minister for War asks for 287,312,670 francs ; the Minister of Marine, 50,553,300 francs for home purposes, Algeria, Tunis and Morocco. For the Colonies, 4,805,405 francs are required, and the new Under-Secretary for Aviation puts his amount at 184,683,270 francs. Of the total sum asked for, material for works, laboratories, etc., absorb 454,275,905 francs and 33,215,000 francs are allotted to prizes and subsidies. Petrol for military and service purposes would be in addition to these requirements. The Ae.C.F. Grand Prix FEBRUARY 20, 21 and 22 is the first three-day period when competitors may go for the prizes offered by Mme. Deutsch de la Meurthe, through the French Aero Qub. Particulars of the competition were given in FLIGHT on January 14 last. The course is about 2,400 kiloms., and to fly this within twenty-four hours will necessitate day and night flying, for which lighting provision has been made at the various turning points of the air-route mapped out. A maxi- mum time of seventy-two hours to cover the distance is allowed to each competitor from the time of starting, and five starts are permitted each competitor during the three-day periods. It is not very likely that the February dates will bring out many contestants, so that it will not be until the May three-day period that a show may be expected. Damblanc Tests His Screws SOME recent tests by M. Damblanc at Longchamp are said to have given good results. The lift obtained, as measured on a dynamometer, is stated to be considerably greater than any previous one, and the next step will prob- ably be the trial at Villacoublay with a full-scale machine, carrying a dummy to represent the pilot. This machine may be released from a balloon. American Non-Stop Duration Record IT is announced from San Diego that a new American recprd for pilot and five passengers for seaplanes has been put up by the U.S. naval seaplane " N.C.5," which flew on January 1 from San Diego to Magdalena Bay, Lower Cali- fornia, in 9 hours 15 mins. The distance between Point Loma and the bay is 702 miles. An Indian Air Mail Adventure ON January 19, Flying-Officer Cyril Richard Smythe, in charge of a Bristol fighter, carrying the Indian mails, lost his way on the Indian frontier, and had to make a forced landing in Afghan territory, owing to petrol shortage. Neither the pilot nor the observer were injured, and news has since been received that they arrived safely at Kabul on January 26. 103
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