AVIATION NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 425, 17 November 1930, Page 11

AVIATION NOTES

ATTACKS ON WARSHIPS

DOUBLE PURPOSE ’PLANES LONDON, Oct. 3. Sca-going performance is linked with increased speed and carrying load power in a new float seaplane, which is the largest in the world. The Society of British Aircraft, Constructors, Ltd., announces that the aircraft, called the Valctta monoplane, hag been designed to obtain comparative performance data ox float and boat-hull seaplanes of equivalent power and size. It is a three-motored craft of approximately 1500-horse power, and weighs ten tons when fully loaded. The floats are notable in size, each being nearly 40ft. long and displacing 22,5001 b. This large craft has shown a maximum velocity of about 140 miles an hour in seaplane form.

A feature of the internal equipment is the wireless receiving and transmitting gear. Under normal atmospheric conditions the set has a transmitting range of 300-400 miles, using telegraphic signals, and between 200-250 miles for direct telephony. Provision is made and special equipment provided in the form of derrick which may be fitted ’above the engines when needed, for the removal and refitting of any power-plant while the. craft is afloat. The Valctta is constructed by Short Brothers (Rochester and Bedford), Ltd. The engines are Bristol “Jupiter” aircooled radials and the wireless equipment is Marconi. A Duralumin Machine The Valctta is alternatively designed as a landplane with tw’o immense landing wheels on a normal type undercarriage which incorporates an oil-damp-ing system and rubber springing. A similar land or seaplane, but built first in the landplane form, has also begun flying trials within the last few days. This is the Viastra, a high-wing monoplane in which even the wing coverings arc of metal instead of the more usually employed fabric. A smaller aircraft than the Valctta, the Viastra is designed for operatioii with one, two, or throe motors, according to the needs of the aircraft operation. One twin-engined and one single-engined machine have been ordered by West Australian Airways for their air-mail line between Perth and Adelaide; the craft now flying in this country has three motors totalling about 700-h.p. The Viastra is built entirely of duralumin, and marked efforts are apparent to cheapen the cost of production and provide speedier methods in the design. In tho interests of economy new straight-sided floats are being tested; these cost approximately 15 per cent, less than floats of the usual boat-shape, and the slight loss in efficiency caused by their use may be considered by the

air-line operator as more than balanced by saving in first cost.

The Viastra is built by Vickers (Aviation), Limited; the engines in the three-engined craft are ArmstrongSiddeley Lynx geared, aircooled radials of 240-horsc power. Vulnerability of Warships Service aeroplanes engaged in an attack on the, Atlantic Fleet off the. southern coast of England during combined war exercises gained notable success. A powerful torpedo attack was launched on the Nelson and Rodney, two of the most formidable warships in the British Navy. The aeroplanes achieved a surprise raid, and great 1 ‘damage” was done to the surface craft, the two battleships being struck by eight out of the seventeen torpedoes launched against them from the air. The surprise was sufficiently complete to find them without their main anti-aircraft defence ready for the fray. In addition, singleseater ship fighting ’planes harassed the Fleet with machine-gun attacks, th? pilots diving their craft at high speed and sweeping the fighting tops and decks with bullets.

Knowledgeable observers of the clash between sea and air forces admit the attack proved thj vulnerability of warships from the air. The importance of this lesson ’is emphasised when the material emploved by the air arm is considered. The torpedo-droppers and fighters wore all obsolescent machines, some of which have been in service for several years, and given modern machines the task of the fleet in coping with the sudden throat from the air would be still more difficult.

The swiftest surface ships cannot hope to compete in ease of control, speed of turning, and sheer velocity with an aircraft. Though the exercises did not establish that a fleet may be turned back by air action alone, they demonstrated clearly that air action, particularly if undertaken by a large number of machines and if intelligently handled, can always seriously harass a fleet ad frequently do grave damage.

United States Order The Government of the United States of America has paid a high tribute to British aero engine design and construction. having placed an order for throe, Rolls-Royce 825-h.p. “H” watercooled engines. This is probably the most powerful water-cooled aero engine yet in regular production in the w’orld, and from it was evolved the famous Rolls-Royce racing engine which powered the victorious seaplane in the last Schneider Trophy international contest, and, in the same flying machine, holds three world’s speed records. The .United States Government contemplates using the ordered engines for research and experimental purposes, and a guess is made by some British experts that the order has something to do with a possible United States entry next year for the Schneider Trophy contest. However that may be, the entire British aircraft industry takes pride in this supreme tribute from a nation which holds a,

prominent position among the wo rfd’s producers of aero engines.

The racing engine evolved frbm the “H’’ motor develops more than 1900h.p. with a weight of only 15701 b.—an achievement which seemed almost impossible a xcry few years ago. The “H” engine, intended for steady, trouble-free output over long periods instead of tremendous power development, still shdws excellent figures in the ratio of power to weight, its full 825-h p. being produced by .14601 b. of motor. The engine is exceptionally light and rigid; a new light alloy produced by the RollsRoyce firm has recently begun to play an important part in construction.

Several big British machines, including one of the biggest flying-boats yet built in this country, are powered with the “H” engine. Six “H” motors will provide the power for the immense 33-tons boat, Groat Britain’s largest hcavier-than-air flying machine, which is being built by the Supermarine Aviation Works, the firm responsible for the record-breaking racing seaplanes.