WIX Archives

After a week away..(long - but varied and interestin I hope)

Posted by Paul McMillan on Sun Nov 11, 2001 12:11:49 PM

Travelling around Scotland, seeing castles, battlefields and lochs and NO aircraft... Expect the odd Tornado.. I thought I would make a contribution..

a: Firstly, thanks to Jason Webb and David Burke for posting the stuff about the Hawker Fury at Brooklands..

b: I have just read about 4 pages worth of stuff on this site and am amazed at what happens in a week.. Mick finds something and then while gets us all excited then keeps quite. :-{. I can understand him not wanting to say location but maybe aircraft type could be mentioned ???

c: However the stuff about the German engines and Ju 88 recovery was good news :-}

d: Also Tony putting on his wellingtons and going bog walking could be good for a laugh... Ditto comments about location and type

e: I read some of the introductions and was gladdened and amazed that there are people in there teens and 20's intersested in this stuff. It bodes well for the future of this past time and this from a old man of 35! Looks like the editors of the magazines will be glad of this as well. reminds me of the old story that the Telegraph in the UK was losing its readers ie.e old colonels faster than it was recruiting young turks...

f: I have also recieved my latest copy of classic wings (thanks Graham) and there is a good couple of pictures of the Corsair in Guam in there.. That should keep Rob happy!

g: While on the subject of Clasic Wings.. There is an article on flying the Sopworth Camel.. Gene de Marco who flys the example at Ole Rineback got me thinking.. This bird has an original 160 BHP Gnome rotary. Gene explained that the cylinders rotate (as you would expect in a rotary engine) and saying how there is no exhaust mechanisim as there is no place to put it on a rotary.. But this got me thinking.. How did the fuel get to the cylinders in the first place.. There cannot be fixed hoses as this would not allow the engine to turn. Can someone please explain to me in simple english how this was achieved. The same with the oil.. Unless this was self contained.. Ignition would not be a problem as all that would be needed was something like a rotary arm in a car distributor to control the timing.. But how go you get the fuel into the cylinders when the how mechanism has to move?? I hope someone can answer this question and also

h: Finally, (if I have kept your attention this long), in Aeroplane monthly there is a picture of a TAF Oscar with its wings attached..It says 'the cockpit canopy lofting lines are currently being finalised for reproductions and glazing is eing manufactured by Cee Bailey in California'. The picture shows this structure in place on the aircraft. The question I have (the first of maybe a few along these lines are) "if I wanted to do this myself how would I do this". ie. is there someone out there on this forum who could tell me how someone would go about making glazing for an aircraft.. Not just for the Oscar but for ANY type of aircraft.. what tools and techniques would you need if you wanted to have a go yourself??? I hope someone can help me..

Anyway that is all from me...

Paul

Follow Ups: