EVEREST FLIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 69, 23 March 1933, Page 11

EVEREST FLIGHT

TESTING THE MACHINE

SATISFACTORY TRIALS

PILOT PLEASED

The preliminary tests of tho Hous-ton-Westland two-seater biplane to bo used in the flight over Mount Everest,wore, according to tho London "Times," entirely satisfactory. The machine was up for about half an hour, and reached an altitude of 24,000 feet without the slightest difficulty. In. fact, it took only seventeen minutes to climb 20,000 feet. Tho flight took place at the Yeovil aerodrome, and was carried out under, the supervision, of the management and staff of the Westland Aircraft Works. The two-seater was built originally as an experimental. machine, but has been adapted from its military form and has been fitted with a Bristol Pegasus S.III engine.' It is calculated that the total loaded weight of the machine when setting out for the flight over Everest will be about 50001b. In the. test it was loaded up to slightly moro than that weight. It also carried a little more petrol than will bo required. < ele6tricai, heating. Tho excellent performance of the machne camo as no surprise to those who have been responsible for its design and equipment. The necessary adaptations have been carried out in a remarkably short time, and those members of the Mount Everest Committeo who were present wore- more than pleased 'at the result. The biplane was taken up by Mr. H. J. Penrose, the test pilot at the Westland Works, who had put the machine through some short experimental handling trials. Lord Clydesdale, who is to be the pilot over Everest, did not go up, but spent some time making himself familiar with all the details of the engine and equipment and in testing the controls. Air Commodoro P. F ; M. Fellowes, the leader of the Expedition, was tho observer and went up with Mr. Penrosc. The afternoon was beautifully fine, but very cold, and there was little or no wind when the machine was 'towed by tractor out of its shed. Mr. Penrose and Air Commodore Fellowes were equipped with all the electrically heated clothing which will be worn on the actual expedition, except the eleetricallyheated : goggles. Tho special electrical heating apparatus witli which the machine has been fitted warms not only tho pilot and the observer but also the valves, the oxygen apparatus, and tho necessary instruments. PROTECTION. There is no roof to the pilot's cockpit, which has been equipped with a hooded windscreen as a protection against draughts. The cockpit of tho observer is roofed in. It has two windows on either sido and a window in the floor, from which photographs will be taken by the Williamson Eagle cameras and the cinematograph camera which arc to bo used. Pull oxvgeu cylinders were carried. From " the start of the preliminary test Mr. Penrose adjusted the oxygen, pad over his mouth, inhaling small quantities, which he increased as higher altitudes were reached. At '4.21 p.m., with tho sun low on the horizon behind it, tho machine took off perfectly. There was no wind, and after a run of less than a hundred yards the biplano rose gracefully into the air and began climbing at once. Soon it had becomo only a speck in the sky. After Remaining m the air for nearly half an hour the machine began to descend, and a very good lauding was made at about 4.55. Both pilot and observer were enthusiastic over tho performance. Mr. Penroso said that he climbed at the actual speed' at which it is expected that the machine will climb over Everest. They got up to 24,000 feet in slightly better time than the theoretical time which they had mapped out. Had they had another half-hour they would have, been able to cany out their full altitude test and have finished the job. There was absolutely no_ trouble of any sort. All the electrical heating gear and tho oxygen apparatus . worked excellently. At 24,000 feet he took a hearty dose of oxygen. Although at that height the temperature was minus 30 degrees Centigrade, he did not feel the cold, so well was the machine heated. At one time he was so warm that he turned off the heating apparatus. He felt no draught. He climbed at tho rate of about 1000" feet a minute. The controls handled well, and ho experienced no discomfort. Petrol consumption was good. Mr., Penrose was particularly pleased with the new air screw which has been fitted. This does ,not enable the full horse-power of the engine to be used until a height of about 13,000 feet is reached, iv order that a large portion of the horse-power may bo available at a greater altitude. NO VIBRATION. Air-Commodore Fellowes said that throughout the flight he was very comfortable- and warm. t Indeed, when he took off his flying helmet at the end of the flight he was perspiring. Ho spent most of-his tiino^ while in the air-in testing the apparatus. He communicated with the pilot by means of slips of paper, and not by microphone. The lowest temperature they experienced —minus SOslgg Centigrade—was, he stated, only a little higher than that which they expected to get while over Everest. Ho did not put on any goggles, which, were unnecessary ,iv the observer's cockpit, and although ho opened the side windows for somo littlo timo he did not feel the cold. Ono particularly important .thing was tho entire absence of vibration, which would be good from the photographic point of view. It is expected that no difficulty will bp experienced in obtaining the required operative altitude of something over 34,000 feet. Given reasonably good atmospheric conditions over Everest, this should enablo tho summit of the mountain to be cleared with some 3000 feet to spare. hares to be pursued in discussion groups or steadily tracked down single-handed by means of tho law reports, review articles, and textbooks; Every student spends his afternoons in the library in trying to form conclusions out of thD chaos of the morning's discussions in class. If he cannot form a conclusion one way or tho other by Juno ho will not comeback next year. Whatever its defects, the "case method" would command attention for its presentation of law as a study worthy the interest of an intelligent man and for the enthusiasm it arouses, in students* That is not, however, the whole sum of its merits. Through it the student comes involuntarily to realise that law is a storehouse of problems solved, not of principles automatically and inevitably applied. Ho appreciates tho supremo importanco of facts in legal situations. Ho lgprns to make distinctions between closely similar situations, to recogniso invalid distinctions and avoid them: Most important of all he is continually in contact with the minds of great judges: he sees how the masters of their craft think legally, and by observing them learnajq think legally himself.

The flight took place at the Yeovil aerodrome, and was carried out under the supervision of the management and staff of the Westland Aircraft Works. The two-seater was built originally as an experimental. machine, but has been adapted from its military form and has been fitted with a Bristol Pegasus S.III engine.' It is calculated that the total loaded weight of the machine when setting out for the flight over Everest will be about 50001b. In the. test it was loaded up to slightly moi-o than that weight. It also carried a little more petrol than will bo required. > v