BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

Evening Star, Issue 22720, 6 August 1937, Page 2

BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

BRITISH CIVIL AVIATION. Tho Commercial Aviation Committee, Wjiich represents tho Lonuon Chamber of Commerce, the Association of British Chambeis of Commerce, and tho Federation of British Industries, has recently discussed the May bury report on British civil aviation (states ‘ Shell* Aviation News ’). The committee agrees with the Maybury report on the main points, but emphasises • the necessity for early action, particularly in tho provision of radio equipment and an organisation for tho control of aircraft in flight. An interesting recommendation is made that tho Air Ministry should publish a cheap map delineating tho air traffic routes; this map should be issued free of charge to all civil pilots, to all R.A.F. units, and civil flying training schools, and that regulations should bo drawn up prohibiting pilots crossing or flying along routes except under conditions and at altitudes prescribed by the Air Ministry. This would virtually confine the use of the main routes to commercial aircraft. The committee also supports very strongly tho provision of a cheap and light two-way radio set, the carriage of which should be made compulsory for all aircraft not fitted with other radio equipment. An interesting recommendation is that a flying school for the advanced training of pilots on regular air services should be established at an early date. The committee draws attention to tho fact that there is no. reference to the subject of research in connection with civil aviation. The committee submits that if Great Britain is to maintain a technical standard comparable with that of other nations, financial provision should be made for research into the _ problems directly connected with civil flying, and that such a step would prove to bo an important national investment. NEW PAST BOMBERS. Five of the latest bombers in service in the R.A.F. are now revealed as capable of speeds between 190 and 279 miles an hour and as having normal ranges of from 1,000 to 1,500 miles. Tho exact bomb load is not disclosed, partly because it may vary according to the amount of fuel carried, but tho loaded weight of one machine is 9,2541 b, and of another 23,0001 b. The useful loads cannot be less than 3,5001 b in the one and B,ooolb in tho other (states the aeronautical correspondent of the Loudon ‘Times ’). The machine which, has the most spectacular performance is_ the Bristol Blenheim twin-engined medium bomber. Its top speed at the operational height of 14,000 ft is 279 miles an hour. At a height of 20,000 ft the best, speed is 274.5 miles an hour, and though the power falls off a little sharply at greater heights, the machine is still able to climb at the rate of 100 ft a minute up to a height of 30,000 ft. This performance is obtained on the power of two Bristol Mercury (825 lx p.) engines, with an aeroplane of a loaded weight of 11,7761 b. Its range with the ordinary bomb load is about 1,000 miles. . A still more remarkable medium bomber, in view of the engine-power, is the Fairey Battle. Its top speed at a height of 15,000 ft is 257 miles an hour, its loaded weight is 10,7751 b, and its range about 1,000 miles. In this machine a _ Rolls-Royce Merlin (1,050 h.p.) engine is used, _ and_ the service ceiling obtained with it is 26,000 ft. At tho other end of tho scale is the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley heavy bomber, which, with two Armstrong Siddeley Tiger (800 h.p.) engines, has a maximum speed of 192 miles an hour, a range of 1,500 miles, and a sendee ceiling of 19,000 ft. Its useful load amounts to 6,8001 b. The speed of the first bomber built on the geodetic type of construction is 202.5 miles an hour at B,oooft, and falls only to 184.5 at 23,000 ft. This machine is the Vickers Wellesley general purpose aeroplane, lighter than any of its companions and yet capable, if the promises of the geodetic system have been realised, of carrying an equal load. Its loaded weight is only 9,2541 b, and its range is given as about 1,150 miles. It is with tho latest Bristol Pegasus engine. The heaviest machine of _ all is the Handley Page Harrow, which flies at a weight of 23,0001 b, reaches a speed of 190 miles an hour at a height of B.oooft, and has a service ceiling of 19.200 ft. Its engines are two of the Bristol Pegasus type. This is the only high-wing monoplane of tho fire and it is the only one without a retractable undercarriage. The others are all low-wing monoplanes. All five use variable-pitch airscrews to rive rapid acceleration at the take-off - and to make the best use of the available power in level fh'dit. IB have flaps on the trailin'* edge of the whig to steepen tho glide and improve the lift of tho heavily-loaded wings at the landing. The particular significance of all five types is to he found in the increase in load. The bomber of whatever ■rinss now carries nearly twice as much hi useful load as the type itjs displacing. This means a wider range of operation and a greater striking power. In addition there is a large improvement in speed, vvln’eb should mean greater effectiveness. The fastest machine has a speed 100 miles an hour better than any aircraft formerly in service.