AVIATION NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19100, 10 November 1933, Page 2

AVIATION NOTES.

FLEET AIR ARM.

UTILISATION OF RUSTLEBS STEEL.

CORROSION DEMON OVERCOME

(From a Correspondent). LONDON, October 23. Severe tests of experimental aeroplanes built of stainless steel— except for the fabric covering of wings, fuselage and tail unit and certain minor components—have proved the worth of the metal. Twelve stainless steel ’planes—six "Nimrod” single-seater ship fighters and six ‘‘Osprey,’’ twoseater fighter-reconnaissance craft — are in course of construction; following trials in the hands of the Hawker test pilots they will be sent to replace older types of aircraft in the complement of the Fleet Air Arm. ( Since the earliest days of metal aircraft -building, British chemists and metallurgists have sought ways and means of countering the corrosion demon, which more perhaps than any other single factor limits the ‘‘life’ of an aeroplane and adds to maintenance charges. Metals which in themselves are not rustless are coated with protective coverings of special varnishes; they may also be chemically treated or stove-enamelled. In these ways a high degree of resistance to corrosion is obtained, and metals treated according to established British technique show remarkable endurance even in most severe conditions, such as affect operation of seagoing aeroplanes in the tropics. There still remains real advantage in employing a constructional metal which requires the minimum protective treatment, and adoption of stainless steel represents a long step towards the corrosion-proof flying machine. The first cost of a stainless steel structure is considerably higher than that of a similar aeroplane built of other materials, but the makers claim that the freedom from corrosion will more than compensate for the increase in initial expenditure.

Defence of the Navy. Fastest shipboard fighters yet commissioned for service in any of the world’s navies, the "Nimrod” biplanes provided the spearhead of the defence of aircraft carriers and capital ships against aerial attack in the recent seaair exercise held over a thousand square miles of the-North Sea. Carrying full 'load-I—and 1 —and the shipboard aeroplane must lift considerably more ruel and navigational equipment than‘landbased craft doing similar work—the “Nimrod” attained in official test flights as long ago as October, 1931, a maximum level speed of 200 miles an hour. i , The "Osprey” Is equally notable for high speed and general flying efficiency. Its maximum attainable speed is In the neighbourhood of throe miles a minute, and its cruising range is more than five hundred miles. Both ‘‘Nimrod" and "Osprey” ’planes have been supplied to foreign governments as well as to the Fleet Air Arm, always abroad in the face of severe competition from foreign airoraft constructors.

Flying Ship on Orulse. ' Britain’s largest aeroplane, and the fastest flying boat in the world, the Short six-engined biplane which weighs, with full load on board no > less than 32 tons, concluded at Felixstowe yesterday a two thousand miles cruise round much of the British lies. The flight was undertaken in continuation of earlier service trials of the big ’plane, and was especially planned to test her seaworthiness in moderately agitated seas and her behavious at anchor in exposed moorings. Flight Lieutenant H. G. Sawyer, oneof the officers attached to the marine aircraft experimental station at Felixstowe, was in command. ' The flight began with a non-stop journey of approximately 600 miles from Felixptowe to Lerwick, in the Shetland Islands, continued to Kirkwall. In the Orkneys, and then on by •way of Stornoway, Londonderry. Stranraer, Oban, Pembroke Dock and * the Mouutbatten seaplane base, Plymouth. Altogether the trip lasted exactly a fortnight, and much valuable information was gained

Yugo-Slavla Buy* British. Mr Mltrovitch, ohief technical representative of the Yugoslavian air transport company whloh Is usually stvled “Aeroput,” has recently accepted, after severe trial flights, what is hoped to be the first of a number of Spartan "Cruiser" three-engined transport ’planes that will be placed in service on the company’s air lines. Not till the. machine had been thoroughly inspected and test flights gone through successfully at fully laden weight of 5700 pounds did he sign the acceptance note; in every detail of performance the craft proved rather better than was specified. The order was obtained against extremely severe foreign competition. When it became known that the directors of “Aeroput” were considering tho purchase of new aircraft every European builder of machines which he considered suitablo submitted an offer. One foreign Air Ministry actually sent representatives to the spot in 'an effort to secure the contract for their nationals, an interesting example of the kind of competition with which Br’tish aeroplane constructors have to contend in many parts of the world nowadays. Captain W. P. C. Greene, a Con- ‘ servative member of Parliament, has chartered a "Cruiser” to take him and some friends on a pleasure flight from England to Australia and back, a Journey of some 25,000 miles which is probably tho longest "special charter” trip in the history of flying. Mr Lynch Blosse, of Spartan Air Lines, which this summer operated with great success daily services between London and the Isle of Wight, will be the pilot. ______________