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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0137.PDF
FEBRUARY 24, 1921 .*-.-,• - ~-- y ''- ' * '..- --.' •••',.-!*• -*• , '* __/• »v ~ .- .' "'.' :'" •'-:"•"' • •••••' tomed to think that the aeroplane had nearly reached its limit of development, except for a new prime mover. To Mr. Handley Page was due the credit for having introduced a new means of support. He then referred to some experiments carried out by him at the East London College before the War, and asked permission to have shown a set of slides of pressure plottings obtained with a small rider plane which was so arranged that it could be placed in a number of different positions relative to the main plane. These diagrams were published in FLIGHT of November 20, 1914, and Dr. Thurston, in dealing with the results which they showed, came to the conclusion that " burbling " was due to end effect, as a plane with aspect ratio of 9 had a very late burbling point. Col. BRISTOW said that when he heard the lecturer mention that for the full scale experiments a small plane was mounted in front of the ordinary wing section of the D.H.g so as to avoid expense, he was absolutely horrified. To think, he said, that here were these experiments going on, experiments which might have the most far-reaching effects on the future of aviation, and yet the inventor had to consider a trifling matter of a few pounds saved. Surely the Air Ministry was not so far removed from Cricklewood that means of communi- cation were not in existence, and he thought that money should be forthcoming from the Air Ministry to help in a matter like this. In replying to the various gentlemen who had taken part in the discussion, Mr. HANDLEY PAGE said he would prefer to deal with them in the inverse order of speaking, so as to have them freshly in mind. With regard to Col. Bristow's remark relative-to the question of expense, he would point out that the Director of Research was present, and would no doubt see that the opinions expressed by Col. Bristow would be conveyed to the right quarters. He then had shown the German slotted wing (Lachmann Fliigel), and said that they had had a model of it tested in their wind tunnel. The best results they could get out of it, however, was a maximum lift coefficient of -5 (absolute) which was not very encouraging. With regard to Dr. Thurston's experiments he pointed out that these dealt with wings in tandem, which was not the same thing as the slot arrangement of the H.P. wing. As regards the very nice remarks Dr. Pippard made about the change-over from longitudinal to transverse slots, Handley Page said, there was no question of genius about it. If it were found that the longitudinal slots did delay burbling, it was natural to say to oneself that with the longitudinal slots the air had to make up its mind which way to go to fill up the eddying region, and having made up its mind, it had to rush along head over heels. It was then quite a logical conclusion to say to oneself that it would be much easier for the air to be admitted along the entire span of the wing so that without fuss it could follow the curvature the whole way. That, as a matter of fact, was more or less the manner in which the transverse slots were arrived at. Concerning the matter of angle of fuselage to planes, it was quite obvious that he did not intend the fuselage to be down at an angle of more than 45 degrees when landing, as such a position would be distinctly uncom- fortable for the unfortunate passengers, who would be landing on their backs, so to speak. As a matter of fact, the multi- slot arrangement had been referred to mainly for its academic interest, as showing what maximum lift might be obtainable. For the time being one got enough lift by one or two slots, and the multi-slot arrangement could always come along later, when one had had some experience with the simpler form. With regard to Mr. Gnospelius' reference to the poor L/D ratio, he would point out that with the auxiliary plane lying snugly against the leading edge of the main plane, the L/D ratio was practically unaffected. Replying to Major Green the tests carried out were with a D.H.9, and as it was desired to keep the leading edge and front spar as little affected as possible, it was found that they could not get quite as nice a slot as was desired. In spite of this, however, the results compared reasonably well with model tests. Capt. Sayers had pointed out that even using the simple one-slot form, if one were satisfied with a speed of about 75 m.p.h. it would be possible to carry passengers for very much less than present rates. One had to make sure, however, that the aeroplane journey, to Paris for instance, would show a considerable saving in time over the ordinary steamer and rail journey. Professor Bairstow had referred to the effect of downwash angle. In the actual tests on a D.H. 9 it was found that the presence of the slot had the effect of making the machine nose heavy, not tail heavy. The Chairman (Sir JOSEPH PETAVEL) then thanked Mr. Hand- ley Page for his paper and for his witty and interesting reply to those who had taken part in the discussion, and the evening closed with passing a vote of thanks, proposed by Air-Commo- dore Brooke-Popham, to Sir Joseph Petavel for taking the chair. ROYAL AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY NOTICES Lectures.—-Air-Commodore E. M. Maitland, C.M-.G., D.S.O., A.F.C., will preside at the next meeting at 5 p.m., on March 3, at the Royal Society of Arts. Two papers will be read, on " Parachutes," by Major Orde-Lees, O.B.E., A.F.C., and on " Airship Fabrics," by Mr. J. W. W. Dyer. The last meeting of the present Session will take place on March 17, when Capt. D. Nicolson, M.I.N.A., Associate Fellow, will read a paper on " Flying Boat Construction." Early History.—The Secretary is glad to be able to announce that he has been able lately to obtain two copies of the first paper read before the Society on its formation, which he has placed in the Library. This was a paper read by Mr. Fred W. Breary, the original Honorary Secretary, at Stafford House, on February 28, 1866, when the Duke of Sutherland occupied the Chair. The occasion was the second Council Meeting (the first having been held at Argyll. Lodge on January 12 of the same year), and the paper contains a suggested pro- gramme for the proceedings of the Society. The order for its printing and circulation to members has been found in the original minute book in the Society's possession. It is a paper-bound pamphlet of four octavo pages and is believed to be very rare. The Secretary had already a copy in his 21 H Los Angeles to New York in Two Days QUICK delivery in New York of a letter posted on January 24 in Los Angeles was made possible by the use of the airway part of the journey. It was delivered in New York at 5.30 p.m. on January 26, the letter having been carried by the night mail from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, reaching there in time to be transferred to an aeroplane, which carried it to Omaha. It was taken by train to Chicago, and by aeroplane from Chicago to New York. own possession, but had not previously been able to trace one among the Society's records. He feels that Members will be glad to have this interesting historical addition to the Library. The first paper read before a meeting of the Mem- bers as a whole was, of course, F. H. Wenham's paper on "Aerial Locomotion," read at the Royal Society of Arts, on June 27, also in 1866, which has been reprinted as the first volume of the " Aeronautical Classics." Election of Members.—The following Members were elected in the various grades as shown at a Council Meeting, held on February 15 :—Associate Fellows : Flying Officer G. Morning- ton Bryer, A.F.C., J. D. Campbell, B. S. H. B. Wyn Evans, M.I.N.A., Shou-Heng-Huang, Fit. Lieut. A. J. Osborn, Lieut. C. St. Clair Penny, Sqdrn. Ldr. R. G. Parry, D.S.O., E. T. Robins. Students": A. M. Clifton, C. Daniel, E. M. Farris, W. H. Rossiter, V. S. Thompson, M. W. Wood.^ Foreign. Members : R. A. Hendy, Lieut.-Col. H. St. Clair . Smallwood, R.A.F. Library.—The following books have been placed in the Society's Library :—" Applied Aerodynamics," Dr. L. Bair- stow ; " The Design of Screw Propellers for Aircraft," Dr. H. C. Watts. W. LOCKWOOD MARSH, Secretary Boy Mechanics for R.A.F. AN open competitive examination, it is announced by the Civil Service Commissioners, for the entry of boy mechanics to the Royal Air Force will be held in London, Edinburgh. Dublin, Birmingham, Bristol, Chatham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Norwich, Plymouth, and Portsmouth, on May 27. The limits of age are 15-16J on July 1, 1921. Regu- lations and forms of application will be sent in response to requests by letter addressed to the Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Burlington Gardens, W. 1, on and after March 1. •A •?..
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