SEAPLANE AS AUTOGIRO

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 5

SEAPLANE AS AUTOGIRO

# AIR MINISTRY ORDER FIRST OP THE TYPE (raou otra owv cobbespokdemt.) ' LONDON, May 11. A seaplane autogiro—the curiou* flying machine in which rotating vanes take the place of the fixed wings of the orthodox aeroplane—is being built for the Air Ministry. Instead of landing wheels it will be equipped with twin floats for takeoff from, and landing on, the water. It will in other ways be exactly similar to the C.30.P. land machine that .Messrs A. V. Roe is building under licerise from the Cierva Company and of which about 50 hava been sold in the last few months. It will have two open cockpits and "direct control" by means of a single hanging lever which enables the pilot to change the actual angle of tilt of the rotor axis relative to the body of the machine. No rudder, elevators, or ailerons are fitted; the tilting of the rotor axis performs the functions of all three in every evolution. The only other control needed for .normal flight is the engine throttle. The C.30 P. can fly as slowly as 15 miles an hour, though its top speed is more than 100 miles an hour. Coupled with, and consequent upon, this seven-to-one speed range is ability to descend in very restricted spaces and to take the air after comparatively short runs along the ground. Early models ran long distances on the ground before the rotor attained sufficient rate of revolution for ascent; the newer versions of the machine are fitted with a clutch device for connecting the engine temporarily with the rotor and thereby accelerating it nearlv to flying speed before the take-off run is begun. The C.30.P. derives power from a Siddeley 7-cylinder Genet Major aircooled 140 horse-power radial engine. Ten of the craft now on order are intended for experimental flying with the army co-operation [squadrons of the Royal Air Force J and there is talk of employing others J for certain duties in the Fleet Aif Ann.