AIRCRAFT TODAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 34, 9 August 1934, Page 17

AIRCRAFT TODAY

TRADE EXHIBITION

THE BEST OF PILOTS

LATEST L\ T MACHINES

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, July G.

Eiglitoeu hundred guests representing civil and military aviation in forty countries watched unknown airmen, givo a magnificent demonstra-' tion of flying at Hendon, wlierc the Society of British Aircraft Constructors staged its third, and greatest Trade Flying Display and Exhibition. There are no better aeroplane pilots in the world than the test pilots of tho British aircraft manufacturing firms. They aro men of vast experience, many have been flying for 15 or 20 years. Their skill is unsurpassed, their knowledge prodigious. Upon them rests in large measuro the maintenance of the unrivalled standards of efficiency and security _ reached by all types of British flying machines. Theirs is the task of making the first flights in every new machine as it loaves the factory. Aeroplane succeeded aeroplane in perfectly timed demonstration flights. Thirty-one machines, of twenty-eight different types, were put through their paces in the morning. In the four minutes allotted to each, the pilot contrived to show in a series of beautifully executed manoeuvres the flying qualities of his craft, its speed range, eusc of control, and power. THE DEFENCE OF LONDON. Specially spectacular were those which engaged tho new single-seater fighters, designed and built primarily with tho defence of London in mind, capable of attaining speeds in tho dive of more than 400 m.p.h. Deriving power from engines considerably more powerful than engines fitted in similar craft only a year ago, these tiny warplanos were put through evolutions of a kind that brought the export observers to their feet in admiration. The new Hawker "SFury Mark II" general-purpose "day and night" fighter, piloted by Flight-Lieutenant Bulinan, crossed tho aerodrome at well over 300 m.p.h. It climbed almost vertically, going up and up till its silvery form was almost lost to sight. This machine is fitted with the Kolls-Boyc-c "Kestrel VI" engine, a new motor, which employs a composito cooling system, partly evaporative and partly water, and gives an extra 100 h.p. without adding to the parasitic "drag" of the aeroplane by needing a larger radiator than was fitted to tho earlier 480 h.p. "Kestrel." Maximum level speed, of the aeroplane, with full load, including1 fuel for several hours on patrol, is nearly 240 m.p.h. Tho Armstrong Whitworth " Scimitar," which also made-its first appearance, was flown admirably by Mr. C. K. Turner-Hughes, and demonstrated astonishing qualities of control at high speeds. This machine, fitted to carry comprehensive load, is also extremely fast, reaching a speed of 221 m.p.h. at a height of 14,000 feet above sea-level. Experts wero particularly impressed with the surenesß aud rapidity of rolls performed at high speed on the ailerons alone. TWO MORE EFFECTIVES. The Gloster '<Gauntlet," latest sin-gle-seater fighter to be acquired by the Air Ministry for the equipment of homo deffaneo squadrons, attracted much attention. Mr. P. E. G. Sayer, the pilot, threw the machine about the sky in a wonderful display, of acrobatic virtuosity. Here undoubtedly is an aeroplane of outstanding qualities, combining high speed—its maximum level speed is betwoen 225 aud 230 ru.p.h.—with rare case of manoeuvre and. excellent outlook for the pilot. Equally effective was tho Bristol "Bulldog IV" powered with tho remarkable "Perseus" slcevo-valved motor, piloted by Mr. Cyril Uwins, onetime world height record holder. The elimination/ of. the usual poppet-valves has removed the source of valvc-clattcr and, the aeroplane seemed to be considerably quieter, in flight than the majority of the other machines. . Among the larger aeroplanes the two night bombers—Handley Page "Heyford" and the Fairey long-range monopiano bomber —were impressive. Tho former is going into service with some 8.A.1Y squadrons; the actual machine on view embodies some recent improvements in design that have ameliorated tho performance of a very effieicint aeroplane. In charge of Captain Cordes, it showed in notable .fashion tho wide speed range and ease of control that are characteristic of. Handley Page aircraft and are due in large measure to the efficiency of the famous -wing-slot device. Plight-Lieutenant Stauiland, who, incidentally, holds a high place among British motor-cycle and motor-car racing drivers, flew the Fairey monoplane, a craft lifted by wings measuring more than a hundred feet from, tip to tip and capable of transporting a heavy load over long distances. In spite of its size Staniland turned the bomber in small compass with the wings almost perpendicular to tho ground. Tho Air Ministry has placed an order for a sufficient number of these machines to equip a squadron. , SINGLE-ENGINED BOMBERS. The Hawker "Hart," today tho bestknown singlc-engined bombing' aeroplane in the world, was shown in three new guises, differing in the power plant installed. Fastest of the three is perhaps the snodcl equipped with the new "Kestrel- VI" sivpereargod engine, which is credited with maximum speed of moro than 200 m.p.h., but the two other machines, one with tho Bristol "Pegasus" 600/750 h.p. radial motor and the other with tho new 24-cylirider 700 h.p. Napier-Halfoid "Daggor," were obviously little, if at .all, inferior. The Wcstland T.V.7 torpedo-bomber and general-purpose monoplane revealed capabilities' of speed and manoeuvre scarcely to be expected of a craft dcsigned'to carry a big load, and, therefore, of a considerable size. Particularly impressive was its slow flight across 'the aerodrome, made ' after• a burst at high speed. Handley Page automatic slots,, fitted in racesscs in tho leading edges of the wings, and the new 'Wcstland split flap at the trailing edgo which acts as an efficient air brake, combined to make possible controlled level1 flight at exceptionally slow speed. A TRANSPORT BIPLANE. ' Tho "direct control" autogiro, which is now- manufactured by the Avro Company, earned its usual meed of applause with spectacularly steep ascents and descents, going up almost like a lift after a very short take-off run, and landing in its own length. Ono of tho four-engined do Havilland D.H. S6 airliners, intended for working from Singapore to Brisbane on the EnglandAustralia airway, satisfied onlookers that its speed, has not boen overestimated at 170 m.p.h. Three other craft. all of which made first- appearances at this demonstration, wero the Vickei-s "Vellox" heavy transport biplane, the 5.T.10 cabin aeroplane embodying a "monospnr" wing, and the Airspeed "Envoy" twin-engined airliner. Tho "Vellox" is remarkable in its capacity to carry a big load at high speed, anil fills n gap in the range of British I aircraft.-. It* immense cabin is built

to carry a load of no less than 6000 pounds/ Extremely wide doors on the port sido of the fuselage and a loading hatch in the roof facilitate, the loading of bulky cargo, such as, for example, parts of machinery neoded for mining in inaccessible territory. .Power is supplied by two "Pegasus" 580/635 h.p. motors. Fitted for military employment the machine roaches a maximum level speed of ICO m.p.h. and can climb to a "ceiling" of 22,000 foot. It is con- \ structcd entirely of metal, mainly dumlumin, except for tho coverings of wings and fuselage, which consist of doped linen fabric. TWIN-ENGINED MONOPLANE. The "Envoy," with two 185 h.p. radial engines, is the twin-engined version of tho Airspeed "Courier" which was the first British commercial aeroplane employing a retractile undercarriage. It first took the air last week. Its top level speed is 170 m.p.h., _and its normal cruising speed, at a' height of 1000 feet, is 153 m.p.h. The enclosed cabin is designed for six passengers. A fleet of this type of aircraft is to be commissioned for servieo within the next few months by an independent air transport company. A more powerful, and otherwise modified, version of tho "Envoy" is being built for tho Lon-don-Melbourne race; it will bo flown by Mr. T. Neville Stack. : Mr. Herbert J. Thomas, chairman or the Society of British Aircraft Constructors, emphasised ono vital point about the display. Ho said: "Every machine which has been demonstrated has proved to the full its efficiency as a practical flying machine. In the construction and development of power units, we take great pride in our achievements —liquid-cooled and aircooled—and both have their adherents. We can claim that the present is a period of intense activity in research and development and we can look to the British aero1 engine maintaining the supremacy which it has established, both for reliability and for all-round efficiency." Regarding the future of aviation, Mr. Thomas declared this was already effecting in a great degreo a better understanding among peoples. On the civil sido aviation promised, almost a remodelled 'world, mails and personal travel accelerated, and the wffrld mado smaller. On tho military side, ho held that in spite of propaganda to the contrary, a strong, competent Air Force was tho finest guarantee for the security of peace of any country under the present conditions of political development. It was an efficient and economical way of policing its boundaries and for rapidly nipping in tho bud any trouble at its source.