APRES LA GUERREdoi: 10.1108/eb031152pmid: N/A
IN this issue we publish three reports dealing with two closely‐allied topics—the disposal of Government surplus stores and postwar export trade. The prospects for the latter are clearly to a large extent bound up with a wise policy on the former.
Airscrews as Landing BrakesVon der Mühll, Dipl Ing. A.
doi: 10.1108/eb031153pmid: N/A
SINCE the first successful flight tests were made with the Escher Wyss airscrew some years ago, this type has been distinguished in this sphere by several fundamental innovations . From the beginning a very high speed of adjustment of approximately 8 deg./sec. was attained in normal operation as an automatic, constant‐speed airscrew. This property and the wide range of speed control between 100 per cent and approximately 40 per cent of the rated r.p.m. made it possible completely to release the pilot from control of the airscrew. Thus the problem of the automatic airscrew was finally solved (Fig. 1). That this solution was satisfactory has been proved by many years' service under the most stringent conditions in the Swiss Air Force.
The Design of StrutsGrundy, R.H.
doi: 10.1108/eb031154pmid: N/A
TO check the suitability of a given strut cross‐section, for a given length and safe concentric working load, is a simple matter provided that a working stress curve or formula is available, but the reverse process of obtaining a suitable cross‐section, for a given length and load is under normal circumstances a tedious trial and error task, unless comprehensive tables of the properties of the required section arc available. The author's method permits a very close first approximation to be obtained, which is frequently sufficiently accurate to enable the required cross‐section to be laid out without further trial.
The Ellipse as Applied to AircraftBillings, V.R.
doi: 10.1108/eb031155pmid: N/A
THE modern aeroplane, while tending to become simpler in general form with every new design, presents ever‐growing difficulties to the drawing office. The accurate establishment of the shape of the aeroplane is by no means the least of these difficulties. Whereas the shape of most aeroplanes built up to 1935 was bounded by a series of flat and simply curved planes, the modern aircraft shape is virtually one plane of a fairly complex nature. Hitherto, most designers have been content to have the complex curves of the aircraft shape made by hand, assisted by several experienced eyes. The logical development of this method has been, in the case of several of the larger manufacturers, the establishment of a mould loft, whose principal duty is to make a full size drawing of the aircraft and from this drawing to establish the shape of all parts of the aircraft exterior and their location relative to some datum line or lines.
Rigidity of Wing and Tail SurfacesBeilschmidt, J.L.
doi: 10.1108/eb031156pmid: N/A
IN an earlier article dealing with the general aspects of clastic distortion phenomena, which appeared in an issue of Aeronautics, mention was made of the various factors which tend either to promote, or to damp out and eliminate the onset of the aerodynamic inertia elastic vibration phenomena known as flutter, and it was pointed out that in this respect the provision of an adequate measure of rigidity, both as regards to twisting and flexure of the wing or tail surface structure is one of the most effective safeguards against the occurrence of torsional‐flexural flutter.
British Government Surplus Storesdoi: 10.1108/eb031157pmid: N/A
(1) This paper is issued in order to indicate the general lines on which the Government propose to proceed in disposing of surplus stores. The Government must, however, reserve liberty to develop and modify their policy in the light of experience and changing circumstances, or in accordance with any international agreements which may be made. The paper does not deal with the disposal of fixed assets such as land, buildings and factories or with machine tools, on which separate announcements will be made.
U.S. Report on Disposal of Surplus Aircraftdoi: 10.1108/eb031158pmid: N/A
The War Contracts Sub‐Committee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Military Affairs issued a report on June 26 on tho disposal of surplus aircraft. The report is prefaced by a statement by Senator James E. Murray, Democrat, of Montana, Chairman of the Sub‐Committee, excerpts from which follow:
A Report on Enemy Fuel Tanksdoi: 10.1108/eb031160pmid: N/A
DETAILED examination has now been made of the materials used in, and methods of construction of, several captured enemy aircraft; the following report deals with components from the Messerschmitt 109 (header tank and fuel tank), Heinkel III (fuel tank), Fiat Cr.42 (fuel tank) and Focke Wulf 190 (drop tank).
U.S. Patent Specificationsdoi: 10.1108/eb031161pmid: N/A
A sighting mechanism for a gun fixedly mounted with its bore substantially parallel to the fore and aft axis of a dirigible craft, comprising means positionable to control the angular rate of turning of the craft, a sight mounted for angular movement relative to the bore of the gun, and sight adjusting means actuated in accordance with the position of the control means to angularly position the sight relative to the bore of the gun, said sight adjusting means including an element settable in accordance with the range of the target for proportionally modifying the effect of the adjusting means in positioning the sight.