FLIGHT, July 6, 1939.

The use of jacks and trunnion mountings facilitates moving the wings about and turning them over while the fabric is being attached.

The elevator tube runs on rollers carried on " h o r s e s h o e s " on the tailplane spar, instead of the more orthodox hinge arrangement.

Landing-flare chutes (with automatically opening doors) are installed in the wing roots. Parachute reconnaissance flares, are released through a chute in the side of the fuselage.

T w o Vickers oleo - pneumatic struts form the basis of each undercarr i a g e structure.

wires on t o p ot t h e fabric surface, these wires being t h r e a d e d t h r o u g h holes in small bolts, as shown in a sketch. T h e m o u n t i n g of t h e petrol t a n k s inside t h e wing provided something of a problem, owing t o t h e considerable length of t a n k s involved. I n t h e end a system was evolved which has proved satisfactory. T h e t a n k in each wing is divided into t h r e e i n d e p e n d e n t units, m o u n t e d in t h e wing w i t h single spigots a t each e x t r e m e end, a n d with four r u b b e r t r u n n i o n m o u n t i n g s between adjacent t a n k s . E a c h t a n k is connected t o t h e n e x t by e x t e r n a l flexible pipes. W h a t m a d e t h e problem difficult was t h a t it was n o t desired t o cut into t h e geodetic wing construction, as t h i s would h a v e involved considerable weight, with openings for t h e t a n k s . I n s t e a d , t h e t a n k s are slid on wooden rails into t h e wing a n d fastened t h e r e . F r o m t h i s - i t follows t h a t t o r e m o v e a t a n k it is necessary t o u n s h i p t h e wing. At first sight it would a p p e a r t h a t this was a bad feature in a military aircraft, t h e t a n k s of which m i g h t

frequently get d a m a g e d . Actually, t h e outer wing portions are a t t a c h e d t o t h e engine nacelles b y 26 screws, which can be quickly d e a l t with b y a brace similar to t h a t used for removing t h e wheels of a car. B y way of a n e x p e r i m e n t a wing was unshipped, t h e t a n k s changed, a n A . I . D . inspection carried o u t , a n d t h e wing p u t back again ready for flight in t h r e e h o u r s . It is m u c h to be regretted t h a t details of certain tests m a d e c a n n o t be published. T h e y relate to t h e e x t e n t t o which t h e geodesies can be d a m a g e d w i t h o u t endangering the s t r e n g t h of t h e wing, a n d show some very good results. I n this connection one m a y recall t h e " basket " masts used on certain ships of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s N a v y some years ago. Tests of these showed t h a t a large n u m b e r of t h e geodesies could be shot a w a y w i t h o u t bringing t h e m a s t d o w n . Similar results were o b t a i n e d in t e s t s on a Wellington geodetic wing. I t seems a l m o s t impossible so to d a m a g e such a wing t h a t t h e m a c h i n e could not be flown home safely.

Dots and Dashes

Dualon Four Wheels

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