the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第28章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
bailing it dry。 Then a descent had to be made at Kiells； in Argyllshire；
because a valve had gone wrong。 Another landing was made at Larne； to
take aboard petrol。 As soon as the petrol tanks were filled and the machine
had been overhauled the pilot got on his way for Dublin。
For over two hours he flew steadily down the Irish coast； and then
occurred one of those slight accidents； quite insignificant in themselves；
but terribly disastrous in their results。 Mr。 Hawker's boots were rubber
soled and his foot slipped off the rudder bar； so that the machine got out of
control and fell into the sea at Lough Shinny； about 15 miles north of
Dublin。 At the time of the accident the pilot was about 50 feet above the
water； which in this part of the Lough is very shallow。 The machine was
completely wrecked； and Mr。 Hawker's mechanic was badly cut about the
101
… Page 102…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
head and neck； besides having his arm broken。 Mr。 Hawker himself
escaped injury。
All Britons deeply sympathized with his misfortune； and much
enthusiasm； was aroused when the proprietors of the Daily Mail presented
the skilful and courageous pilot with a cheque for L1000 as a consolation
gift。
In a later chapter some account will be given of the tremendous
development of the aeroplane during four years of war。 But it is fitting that
to the three historic flights detailed above there should be added the
sensational exploits of the Marchese Giulio Laureati in 1917。 This intrepid
Italian airman made a non…stop journey from Turin to Naples and back； a
distance of 920 miles。 A month later he flew from Turin to Hounslow； a
distance of 656 miles； in 7 hours 22 minutes。 His machine was presented
to the British Air Board by the Italian Government。
102
… Page 103…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER XXXIV The Hydroplane and Air…boat
One of the most recent developments in aviation is the hydroplane； or
water…plane as it is most commonly called。 A hydroplane is an aeroplane
fitted with floats instead of wheels； so that it will rise from； or alight upon；
the surface of the water。 Often water…planes have their floats removed and
wheels affixed to the chassis； so that they may be used over land。
From this you may think that the construction of a water…plane is quite
a simple task； but such is not the case。 The fitting of floats to an aeroplane
has called for great skill on the part of the constructor； and many
difficulties have had to be overcome。
Those of you who have seen an acroplane rise from the ground know
that the machine runs very quickly over the earth at a rapidly… increasing
speed； until sufficient momentum is obtained for the machine to lift itself
into the air。 In the case of the water…plane the pilot has to glide or 〃taxi〃 by
means of a float or floats over the waves until the machine acquires flying
speed。
Now the land resistance to the rubber…tired wheels is very small when
compared with the water resistance to the floats； and the faster the craft
goes the greater is the resistance。 The great problem which the constructor
has had to solve is to build a machine fitted with floats which will leave
the water easily； which will preserve the lateral balance of the machine；
and which will offer the minimum resistance in the air。
A short flat…bottomed float； such as that known as the Fabre； is good at
getting off from smooth water； but is frequently damaged when the sea is
rough。 A long and narrow float is preferable for rough water； as it is able to
cut through the waves； but comparatively little 〃lift〃 is obtained from it。
Some designers have provided their water…planes with two floats；
others advocate a single loat。 The former makes the machine more stable
when at rest on the water； but a great rawback is that the two…float
machine is affected by waves more than a machine fitted with a single
float； for one float may be on the crest of a wave and the other in the dip。
This is not the case with the single…float water…plane； but on the other hand
this type is less stable than the other when at rest。
103
… Page 104…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
Sometimes the floats become waterlogged； and so add considerably to
the weight of the machine。 Thus in Mr。 Hawker's flight round Britain； the
pilot and his passenger had to pump about ten gallons of water out of one
of the floats before the machine could rise properly。 Floats are usually
made with watertight compartments； and are composed of several thin
layers of wood； riveted to a wooden framework。
There is another technical question to be considered in the fixing of
the floats； namely； the fore…and…aft balance of the machine in the air。 The
propeller of a water…plane has to be set higher than that of a land aeroplane；
so that it may not come into contact with the waves。 This tends to tip the
craft forwards； and thus make the nose of the float dig in the water。 To
overcome this the float is set well forward of the centre of gravity； and
though this counteracts the thrust when the craft 〃taxies〃 along the waves；
it endangers its fore…and…aft stability when aloft。
104
… Page 105…
THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
CHAPTER XXXV A Famous British Inventor of
the Water…plane
Though Harry Hawker made such a brilliant and gallant attempt to win
the L5000 prize； we must not forget that great credit is due to Mr。 Sopwith；
who designed the water…plane； and to Mr。 Green； the inventor of the
engine which made such a flight possible； and enabled the pilot to achieve
a feat never before approached in any part of the world。
The life…story of Mr。 〃Tommy〃 Sopwith is almost a romance。 As a lad
he was intensely interested in mechanics； and we can imagine him
constructing all manner of models； and enquiring the why and the
wherefore of every mechanical toy with which he came into contact。
At the early age of twenty…one he commenced a motor business； but
about this time engineers and mechanics all over the country were
becoming greatly interested in the practical possibilities of aviation。 Mr。
Sopwith decided to learn to fly； and in 1910； after continued practice in a
Howard Wright biplane； he had become a proficient pilot。 So rapid was his
progress that by the end of the year he had won the magnificent prize of
L4000 generously offered by Baron de Forest for the longest flight made
by an all…British machine from England to the Continent。 In this flight he
covered 177 miles； from Eastchurch； Isle of Sheppey； to the Belgian
frontier； in three and a half hours。
If Mr。 Sopwith had been in any doubt as to the wisdom of changing his
business this remarkable achievement alone must have assured him that
his future career lay in aviation。 In 1911 he was graciously received by
King George V at Windsor Castle； after having flown from Brooklands
and alighted on the E
