SPEEDING MAILS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1932, Page 6

SPEEDING MAILS

new aeroplane design

LONDON, November 22

Britain’s new 200 m.p.h. mail-earner has reached a late stage in construction'at tlie Boulton and Paul factoiy in Norwich. Assembly-of some of tne main components, including fuselage and biplane wings, has begun, and the aeroplane is expected to be ready for t'rkvl flights early next year. Designed to meet w severe Air Ministry specification issued to British constructors ncuriy two years ago, the new mail carrier is expected to cruise at 172 m.p.h. with a crew of three and a load of ICOO pounds of mail on board, over a distance non-stop of 1250 miles. Its maximum speed on the power of two moderately supercharged “Pegasus” engines will be 195-200 m.p.h. Much attention has gone to the lessening cf “parasite resistance to movement through the air; the fuselage is an ideal streamline shapa, ring cowls surround the motors, which are located in a way tp merge harmoniously into the lines of the upper plane, and not even the smallest excrescence is, allowed to break the external “cleanness” of the structure. The landing wheels are to be encased in streamlined covers.

The new craft will probably be tested in extensive trials along the British air routes in Africa and Asia. Success will mean a new conception of speed in mail delivery; relays cf aircraft of this type, ffying day 'and night, ' could easily ensure a regular service linking England with the chief cities of Ausdalia in seven days. The machine, which is styled the P. 64, is designed for speedy and simple adaptation to seaplane use. Even with the added we gilt and resistance cf floats the aeroplane is expected to attain £he impressive maximum speed of 182 m.p.h. and to cruise hour with full load on board nonstop for 1100 miles.

Safety—as always in designing British military or commercial aircraft—lias been' a paramount consideration. The P. 64 will reach the cruising speed laid down in the Air Ministry’s specification—lso m.p.h.—cn half the engine power available: This means that if one regine should stop the aeroplane would be able to maintain level flight at any height up to 5000 feet on rather less than the normal rated power of one engine, implying as far ■as is humanly possible complete immunity from forced landings. TAILLESS AEROPLANE FOR MUSEUM. Shortly to .be added to the historic aircraft exhibited in the Science Museum at South Kensington is the “Pterodactyl Mark 1.,” first of a series of curious tailless aeroplanes which were invented by Captain G. T. R. Hill, and are now being developed at the Westland Aircraft Works. The machine will be hung in the galleries, in company with the Wright- biplane in which the first authenticated aeroplane flight was made twenty-pine years ago, the first British-built aero plane, arid the lest Schneider Trophy winner and ether famous craft.

The “Pterodactyl” was built in glider form without engine by Captain Hill and his wife at their home. Following successful gliding trials over the South Down, help was obtained from the Air Ministry and >a two-cylin-der Bristol “Cherub” 34 h.p. motor was installed for power flights. Unlike some other efforts with unorthodox flying machines, the first trial flight was a complete success and the aeroplane as it will be exhibited is almost exactly as it-was when it took the c-ir for the first tjime. The tailless aeroplane is steered by the movements of rudders and controllers mounted at the wing-tips. In its latest form, styled Mark IV., the “Ptercdatcyl” is a cabin monoplane for three people, driven by a single IVO h.p. Gypsy air-cooled motor. Main objects of the design were to provide powerful .and effective control even at very low flying speed and to give the pilot the best possible field of vision by removing the engine from the normal position in the nose of the fuselage to a place behind the cabin, where it drives a “pusher” air screw. That the aims of the inventor and his colleagues have been attained was apparent at the Royal Air Force display this year when Flight-Lieutenant Stninforth holder of the world’s speAd record gave a fin© exhibition of “control” in flight in the Mark IV., craft.