The Second Boys' Book of Model AeroplanesCollins, Francis A. (Francis Arnold)
Science
The Second Boys' Book of Model Aeroplanes
Collins, Francis A. (Francis Arnold)
Airplanes -- Models
Builders of biplane models will find some interesting suggestions in the
new Bristol biplane. The forward planes are of the biplane form, the
lower surface being much narrower than the superimposed plane, the
comparative width being one-third wider. Another original feature of
this machine is that the planes are connected by only four struts
instead of by rows of struts along both the front and rear edges. The
planes are held rigid by a series of braces. It is believed that this
arrangement decreases the head resistance, at the same time insuring
considerable lateral automatic stability. The rear plane is of the
monoplane type.
The friends of the Dunn monoplane believe that the question of automatic
stability has been practically solved in this ingenious machine. The
Dunn machine has flown on an even keel for five miles without the pilot
once touching the controlling levers. The trick is in the design of the
main wings.
The greater part of the wing, extending out from the central stick, has
a slight camber and is slightly elevated, besides being set at a
dihedral angle. Near the outer edge the wings are bent sharply down,
much as the wings of a swallow are bent, and are given a considerable
negative angle both forward and outward. The tips, therefore, form
pockets at either end under the arched tips.
Wings modeled in this way are remarkably stable even when traveling
across the wind. When a gust of wind strikes the outer edge of the
plane, it tends to thrust it down rather than up, as is the case when a
gust gets under a wing of the ordinary design. The wing quickly rights
itself, however, since the angle of the plane tends to lift it. The
pockets in turn by compressing the air tend to counteract this tipping
tendency. These pockets are besides closed to an extent by ailerons or
flaps, which may be pulled down, thus confining the air still further.
An effective device for securing lateral control appears in the new
Grahame-White machine. Narrow ailerons are placed on the forward edge of
the front plane near the outer tips. The tips at the opposite ends are
hinged and so connected that as one is raised the corresponding tip is
lowered, or the other way about. Now as one of these tips is lowered,
tending to lift the machine, the opposite aileron working in the other
direction tends to depress it.
The increased resistance offered by the lowered flap again tends to keep
the machine from swinging around in the direction of the side on which
the other aileron is lowered. The lateral control is thus much more
quickly applied than in the case of the rear ailerons. In applying this
principle to model construction, it must be borne in mind that the
resistance of these forward tips is tending to retard the machine and
must be used with care when the motive power is limited.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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