SAFETY IN FLYING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 October 1925, Page 10

SAFETY IN FLYING.

CONTROL OF SPINNING

AERONAUTICAL RESEARCH WORK.

The rapid development of flying, and the introduction of machines of the type of the Moth, are making flying as cheap as motoring. The report of a committee like that on aeronautical research is therefore of national importance.

Among the many problems which have been attacked by this committee we need only c-ite their investigations into accidents, in the engine reliability, which of course is closely dependent on the former, and the problem of spinning, to show how full of interest this Government report is. Research into the problem of stalled flight is emerging from its pioneer stage with the completion of the first flight experiments on the alot-and-aileron control. “This new form of lateral control shows a very marked improvement on the normal type of aileron in use in most aeroplanes,” says the report, “and with it the danger when in flight at low speeds near the ground should lie greatly decreased, since the aeroplane can be controlled even when, it hag lost flying speed.” The investigation on the flutter accidents have not yet been completed, but a sub-committee has issued an interim report on the report on the problem of spinning. Conventional ailerons appear to lie practically inoperative in a spin, but the “slot-and-aileron” have been found to stop the spin of the Avro, even when the controls were held hard over to “cause the spin to continue.” “Although this new control may afford a complete solution of the problem of stopping a spin,” the report adds, “it is considered' that the whole subject of spinning should be thoroughly investigated.” These results are important, since in its investigation into accidents the committee calls attention to the need of officers with more technical knowledge, and to the hope expressed in their last report that it will not he impossible to provide for highly-skilled persons to make a direct technical diagnosis of each power plant failure immediately it occurs, and to report it in a manner which will enable the Ministry to prevent recurrence. Two problems have been referred by the Air Ministry to the Accidents Investigation Sub-Committee during the past year. These related to certain accidents in connection with th 9 involuntary continuation of spins voluntarily started, and to an occurrence of flutter in a series of accidents to a high-speed fighting aeroplane. The last section deals with, the collaboration of the committee and Imperial Airways on the improvement of the reliability and economy of air transport. This is obviously a muchneeded and important line of inquiry, and it is interesting to note that the sub-eomniittee concerned are very much attracted" by the. possibilities of the three-engined aircraft in securing greater reliability. They have put in iiarid an investigation to attempt to ascertain the most economic distribution of structure in such a type. Other subjects include the best flight speed "or freight-carrying machines, the effect of head wind, and a consideration T the most economic length of stage of various sizes of aircraft. Even more interesting in. its possibilities for the future of flvrifr within the Empire is the opinion of the committee that “it would appear that the problem for alighting on an aerodrome under all conditions is near eolation. By wireless direction a pilot should, find the vicinitv of the aerodrome; the leader cable, which is developing satisfactorily, will enable him to detennine the exact position of the aerodrome, and his- height above it; and the neon lights (to he laid out in parallel lines on the aerodrome) should he adequate to help him in making the actual landing.” As is generally known, fog and mist at. terminal points are the biggest obstacle of all to regularity in commercial aviation, and it is extremely satisfactory to find the Aeronautical Research Committee have made such' progress with the problem, and take such a hopeful view of its solution.