Capt. Charles Kingsford-Smith..His Flights
THE GREAT PACIFIC FLIGHT
Flight Magazine June 14, 1928
WITH the echoes of Bert Hinkler's flight to Australia early
this year still audible to its ears that vast dominion has now
risen with equal enthusiasm and pride to the great Pacific
flight of another of its sons, Capt. Kingsford-Smith. For the
first time in history the Pacific Ocean has been flown and
Australia linked with America by air, for the " Southern
Cross " monoplane completed the final sea stage from the
Fiji Islands to Brisbane on June 8-9. Australia has to share
the honours generously with America, because that country
supplied the money, the machine, the three engines, and a
valuable half of the crew. Australia can be well satisfied,
however, with the distinction of providing the leader and his
second-in-command, both of whom received part of their
flying experience in our Royal Air Force.
Technicallv, the flight was a triumph for wireless operating
and navigation as well as for the machine and engines.
Without the remarkable accuracy of the American navigator,
Lieut. H. W. Lyon, and the wireless communication maintained
by the American operator, Mr. J. Warner, the reliability
of the Wright " Whirlwind " engines would have been
of little avail in that boundless ocean, which, on all stages of
the flight, practically left no alternative but to reach the
successive destinations or drown.
In our last issue we gave in detail the first stages of the
flight and the arrival at the Fiji Islands. It will be remembered
that this Fokker machine left San Francisco on May 31
and covered 2,100 miles to Honolulu in approximately 27 hrs.,
a feat that was both successfully and disastrously attempted
by many American pilots last year. Wireless messages
were heard most of the time, an exception being during the
night when a battery was exhausted. Their position was
recovered through communication with the U.S. destroyer
Richmond, and the machine was sighted by s.s. Milaka at a
point 1,450 miles from the Californian coast. It was characteristic
of the messages that they were very optimistic, perky
and personal, and not at all suggesting a difficult and dangerous
journey. It has been stated that 110 American
naval vessels stood by during that stage. When the airmen
reached Honolulu an enthusiastic reception was accorded them.
Preparations were immediately begun for the longest
section of all, a distance of 3,200 miles to the Fiji Islands.
First a short hop of 100 miles was made to the island of
Kauai amongst the Hawaii group, in which Honolulu is on
Oahu. About 1,290 gallons were taken on board. The
actual take-off on June 3 at 5.20 a.m. from Barking Sands on
the island of Kauai was witnessed by a large crowd, and the
leader, Capt. Kingsford-Smith, who was piloting, planned to
steer towards Oahu and intercept the wireless beacon from
Wheeler Field, Honolulu, for 1,500 miles to the south.
Perfect weather prevailed at the start and the wireless
messages were again optimistic for some time, and there was
a remote possibility apparently of making a landing in an
emergency on Canton Island, one of the Phoenix Islands
about 1,700 miles away. When night came on them,
after flying all day it gave indications of bad weather and
they predicted a rough passage, which unfortunately matured.
A terrific storm battled with the machine. Signals became
very faint and there fell a long silence of 4 hours. But
towards dawn the messages were located again revealing
steady though labored progress and hopeful possibilities
of emerging through the ordeal.
At 2.21 p.m. the monoplane circled the landing field at
Suva, Fiji Islands, and landed amidst the excited natives.
It was the first aeroplane to land there, and only once before
had some of them possibly set eyes on a machine. That was
when a seaplane was taken there by boat some years ago and
did a few flights to discover the possibilities for an air mail
service. The airmen covered that second stage of 3,200
Miles in 34 \ hours. Further honors were paid them, but
they did not delay to rest upon them.
A suitable taking-off ground had first to be selected tor
the final trip to Australia. It was found at Naselai Beach,
Fiji, and on June 8 at 2.50 p.m. the last stage to Brisbane was
begun with anticipations of covering it in about 20 hours.
The takin°--off spot was a narrow strip of beach, and there
was a fairly strong cross wind blowing, but the load was
comparatively light this time : being 880 gallons of petrol
and 32 gallons of oil. Wireless communication was immediately
begun. Capt. Kingsford-Smith was piloting. Three
hours' later came word that a compass had continued to give
trouble since leaving, and one generator was defective, but
the message ended on an optimistic note. A little later they
reported bad weather ahead for the coming night and Ulm
was piloting to give Kingsford-Smith a rest. An hour later
only one generator was in use and the
batteries were being spared, then at 7.20 in the evening the
monoplane was climbing to 5,000 ft. owing to adverse weather,
and it was revealed that for two hours they had experienced
the worst conditions of the whole flight. Exceptionally
heavy rain fell, soaking Kingsford-Smith and Ulm, and they
were flying blindly. A message before midnight stated that
there were 700 miles yet to go, and another at 1 a.m. made it
600 miles. At 6 a.m. the estimated figure was 250 miles from
Brisbane and the speed 90 m.p.h. Wireless signals were
growing fainter with daylight. Finally at 10.10 a.m. the
destination was reached, and the Pacific ocean flown for the
first time in history.
Brisbane is Capt. Kingsford-Smith's birthplace and he and
his crew were rapturously received.
On June 10 the flight' was resumed towards Sydney and
a landing was made at 3.10 p.m. on the Mascot, aerodrome,
where Kingsford-Smith and Ulm completed their Round-
Australia flight last year. Machines escorted the " Southern
Cross " and the town resounded with whistles and sirens when
it appeared over the harbor. The leader greeted his aged
parents, whilst the Americans, Lyon and Warner modestly
tried to retire into the background, but the crowd asked for
them, and they were duly hauled on to a lorry with the other
pair to take part in the triumphal procession.
Swift reward came their way. The Commonwealth
Government decided to make them a grant of £5,000. Other
subscriptions brought the total to £16,000, and £50,000 has
been mentioned as the ultimate figure that will accrue to
them. As a token of friendship and tribute to the success,
their financial backer, Mr. Allen Hancock, of Los Angeles,
relieved them of all indebtedness to him.
Sir Samuel Hoare sent the following telegram to Mr. Bruce,
Prime Minister of Australia :—" Air Council tender hearty
congratulations on the successful completion of magnificent
Pacific flight by Captain Kingsford-Smith and Mr. Charles
Ulm." The Secretary of State telegraphed to the Air Attache
at the British Embassy in Washington :—" Please convey
the following message from Sir Samuel Hoarc to U.S. Government
: ' Air Council tender hearty congratulations on Lieutenant
Lyon's participation in Pacific flight successfully accomplished.'
" President Coolidge also sent his congratulations.
In statistics the performance of the " Southern Cross "
was approximately as follows :—
F'irst Stage.—San Francisco to Honolulu, 2,100 miles, in
27 hours, on May 31 to June 1. Petrol carried, 1,200 gallons.
Second Stage :—Honolulu to Suva, Fiji Islands, 3,200
miles, in 34 J hours, on June 3-4. Petrol carried, 1,290 gallons.
Third Stage :—Suva, Fiji Islands, to Brisbane, 1,550 miles,
in 20 hours on June 8-9. Petrol carried 880 gallons. Total
mileage flown (approx.)—7,000.
Machine :—Fokker monoplane. Engines : Three Wright
" Whirlwinds " 200 h.p. each.
It is the intention of Capt. Kingsford-Smith and Mr. C.
Ulm to continue on a flight round the world.
KINGSFORD-SMITH'S ATLANTIC FLIGHT
Including Some Notes on the Equipment of the "Southern Cross"
Flight Magazine July 4, 1930
MANY attempts at crossing the Atlantic by air have been
made during the last ten years : several have succeeded
and some have failed. The feat having been achieved,
we personally look with disfavor upon a continuance of
Atlantic flights, which cannot now serve any useful purpose,
and only entail a considerable amount of risk to the flyers
concerned, and much worry and anxiety to others.
In Sqdn.-Ldr. Kingsford-Smith's successful crossing (from
East to West (which we briefly recorded in our last issue)
there are, however, certain outstanding features which—
apart from it being a magnificent achievement in itself—
class it rather more than a mere stunt.
For one thing, the flight was very carefully organized
and thought out, while the machine, land 'plane though it
was and not, to our way of thinking, the type of 'bus to be-
Wireless played a very important part—in fact. but for the
wireless, as Kingsford-Smith himself admits, they would
not have succeeded. From start to finish they were in
constant touch with the world, and so to record the progress
of the flight we do not think we can do this better than to
give the wireless messages sent out, which will be found
below. We also follow these with some notes on the equipment,
etc., of the Southern Cross.
The Southern Cross, it will be remembered, left Portmanock
near Dublin, at 4.30 a.m. on June 24, the intention
being to fly direct to New York, but a landing was enforced,
owing to fog and compass trouble, at Harbor Grace at
11.57 a.m., June 25 ; they were thus in the air nearly 31 £ hr.
The journey to New York was completed June 26, when the
Southern Cross left Harbor Grace early in the morning.
Dense fog banks again hampered them, and progress was
slow, and they did not land until late in the evening. However,
they received a tremendous welcome, and each broadcast
a short speech before being escorted to their hotel
used on long trans-ocean flights, was very efficiently equipped,
reducing risk to a minimum. The petrol system, the various
instruments, the navigation arrangements, and the wireless
installation were all exceptionally well planned.
The Wireless Log
5:11 a.m.—Splendid take off . Flying fine now. We are up 2,000 ft. already.
Battling along 105 m.p.h. Will endeavour to be on this wave-length
all flight, except when occasionally going over 600 m. in order to get
direction from ships.
6.15 a.m.—Now leaving Irish coast. - .
6.31 a.m.—All O.K., but strong
headwinds.
6.35 a.m.—Passed over Costello
Island, off Galway.
6.40 a.m.—Headwinds very strong,
out conditions good.
655 a.m.—Just passed over a
number of trawlers. Very cheerful to
see other people out in this waste.
Everything O.K. = Air speed, 100
lm-P-h. Revolutions 1,730 per minute
AJtitude, 500 ft. Air temperature,
™ • Estimated ground speed, 75
7:21 A-m.—Just been having a look
The chart with Paddv. Seems as Plenty
Of ships on the course from which
To confirm our position by the direction finder.
7:25 am Hope to be working with steamship
Atlantic, Minnedoa around midday. Getting
Hungary, Guess I take a nibble.
8 A.M. Headwind of fair strength.
10:15 A.M. Shooting sun and things. Icy cold outside.
Bet Van and Smity are felling it.
We are all wrapped up like polar explorers, But
It is still pretty nippy.
11 A.M. 53.15N 16.7 W about 500 miles west of Irish Coast.
Average ground speed since leaving coast 82 statued MPH.
This is satisfactory. All aboard OK an Cheerful. Airspeed 100MPH
1:15 P.M. Slightly overcast. Ocean like a mill pond.
Travelling 100 mph. If conditions like this most flying
Would be easy.
3:03 P.M. Atmosphere bad. Wind south, fog. Going up.
Pining for a smoke.
3:04 P.M. Fading badly. Air speed 105 mph.
3:15- 3:25 P.M. Flying blind in fog.
r.
4 p.m.—Latitude 51-9; longitude 29 N.N.W. 990 miles of
Cape Race
4.5 p.m.—Direction finding; still in fog.
4.13 p.m.—Still in fog ; bumping
4.20 p.m.—Fog all gone.
6 p.m.—Latitude 50.40 N., longitude
34.30 W. (about 750 miles from
Cape Race). Speed 80 m.p.h. Everything
going fine. Wish we could get
out of this beastly fog. Feels as
though we are closed in.
7.15 p.m.—Latitude 50.30 N., and
longitude 36.00 W. (about 680 miles
from Cape Race).
8.30 p.m.—Strong west-south-west
headwinds, probably reducing speed
considerably. Everything else in
order. The revolutions were 1,610 ;
air speed 100 m.p.h. ; altitude 250 ft.
9.20 p.m.—Wind west, easing. Still I0ggy- Expect to be over Cape Race
at 1 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).
10.30 p.m.—Latitude 49.50 N.,
longitude 39-10 W., or nearly threequarters
of the way across the
Atlantic. Speed, 85 m.p.h.
10.45 p.m.—Head winds have decreased
to 10 m.p.h. Everything O.K.
11.30 p.m.—Making excellent progress.
Latitude 49.14 N.t longitude
40.40 W. (about 450 miles E.N.E. of
St. John's).
11.32 p.m.—The whole World is a
peculiar blue, and the sun laughing
red gases in the great bowl of fog.
Almost made the water during fog.
June 25 : 12.8 a.m.—Fog, now
getting quite dark inside cabin. Cheerful
glow of radio valve makes cabin
look cosy. To complete the effect I
think I will wrap myself around another
sandwich. Good-bye.
12.20 a.m.—All O.K. Eating sandwich,
drinking coffee.
12.42 a.m.— Will listen for V.C.E.
(Cape Race call sign). Signals very
strong and now getting data. Outboard
motors shrouded in blue haze,
and each exhaust port has faint pink
flame proceeding from it. Very uncanny.
Lettering on starboard wing
is embossed in gold as the last rays
of sun touch
2.6 a.m.—Position : Latitude 48.12 N. ; longitude 45.5 W. Distance to
Cape Race 250 miles. Everybody happy : all O.K
.
3.15 a.m.—Can't get into touch with Cape Race wireless station
.
4 a.m.—We are within 100 miles of Cape Race and the big stiff still does
not reply.
4.5 a.m.—Does not look as if we shall get a bearing just when we want it.
We should be over Cape Race in another hour.
4.30 a.m.—Still trying to get bearings. Trying to wake up those guys at
Cape Race.
5.5 a.m.—Sorry, old boy. Been messing about trying to get a bearing.
Very dark. Flying blind. Motors ringed with flame. Still 160 miles from
Cape Race. Dickens of a struggle to keep awake now. Drone makes me
tired. Faint streak of approaching dawn.
5.18 a.m.—Still trying to get bearings. Very dark flying. Operator
having dickens of a struggle to keep awake.
6 a.m.—All well. Weather misty with us.
6.15 a.m.—Passed Cape Race." Course being set ^ J : : . : - '
westwards towards Nova Scotia
9 a.m.—Planning to land at Quidividi Field, near
St. John's, or Harbour Grace, Newfoundland.
9.21 a.m. Position 47.47 N., 49.06 W. (about 751
miles east of Cape Race).
9.30 a.m. Turning back. Hope to reach Harbour
Grace.
10.43 a.m. Hurray! See land at last.
10.45 a.m.—Oh boy, It looks good to see our position
on the chart again. 90 miles to go to Harbour Grace.
11.30 a.m.—Perhaps you can do something to guide
us. Please tell the aerodrome to send a machine up
quickly.
The History of the " Southern Cross "
and its Equipment
The Southern Cross is a three-engined
Fokker aeroplane of the type F.VIlB-3m,
equipped with Wright Whirlwind J5 engines,
of 225 h.p. each. Strictly speaking, the
machine consists of two Fokkers, namely,
a Fokker F.VIIA and a F.VIlB-3m. The
wing originally belonged to the first three engined
Fokker, to be fitted with the so called
large wing of 728 sq. ft. (67-6 m.2),
which was supplied to Sir George Wilkins,
the Arctic explorer, in 1925, as also was the
F.VIIA, equipped with a 400-h.p. Liberty
engine, to which the fuselage of the Southern
Cross belonged. Both of the explorer's
machines were damaged in Alaska, and part
of one was used to repair the other.
In 1927 the three-engined aeroplane, which already had many flying hours to its credit va
by Sir George to 'Kingsford-Smith. The three
Whirlwind J5 engines (fitted with Scintilla magneto 1
which are now in the machine, were then installed
Three attempts were first made to improve on th
duration record. Each attempt meant about sn
flying-hours. In 1928 Kingsford-Smith, accompanied
by George Pont, succeeded in remaining in the a
for 50 hours and 4 minutes. Although this was th
first time a three-engined aeroplane had flown /
long at a stretch without being refuelled, this feat
was not officially regarded as a record, seeing no
distinction is made in regard to duration records
between single or multiple-engined machines. When
taking off for this attempt the machine, which was
built for a total weight of 9.0001b. (4,100 kg )
no less than 15,807 1b. (7,176 kg.), or, in other words
the machine was overloaded to the extent of 75 pej
cent.
On May 31, 1928, the Southern Cross took off from
Oakland Field near San Francisco, for the world famous
flight across the Pacific, a flight never
accomplished by anyone else before or since. The
crossing was made in three stages, viz. : San Francisco-
Honolulu, 2,408 miles (3,875 km.) in 27 hr. 27 min. ;
Honolulu-Suva (Fiji Islands), 3,144 miles (5,060 km.)
in 34 hr. 33 min. ; and Suva-Brisbane, 1,795 miles
(2,888 km.) in 21 hr. 35 min. The total distance of
9,263 miles (11,823 km.) was accordingly covered in
83 hr. 35 min., which means an average speed of 88j
miles (142 km.) per hour. Considering the fact that
it was impossible to steer a direct course owing to
the bad weather, and the total distance was consequently
10-15 per cent, more, the average speed
may be regarded as most favourable. The crew for
the Transpacific flight consisted of C. E. Kingsford-
Smith, first pilot ; C. T. P. Ulm, second pilot;
H. Lyon, jun., navigator, and J. Warner, wireless
Operator. After this flight, Kingsford-Smith and Ulm, this
time accompanied by Litchfield as navigator, and
McWilliams as wireless operator, left Melbourne on
August 11 and flew non-stop to Perth, a distance
of 2,000 miles (3,220 km.), which was covered in
23 hr. 24 min. The return journey to Sydney, 2,500 miles
(4,000 km.) was likewise flown non-stop.
Later, with the same crew, the Southern Cross flew over the
Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand, a distance of
1,425 miles (2,290 km.). This was the first aeroplane to fly
across this unbroken stretch of water. With the wind in
their favour the airmen accomplished the flight in 14 hr.,
i.e., with an average speed of 102 miles (164 km.). The return
journey was completed in 22 hr.
On March 30, 1929, the Southern Cross left Sydney with the
same crew in an attempt to improve on the record of 15 days
for the flight from Australia-England set up by Bert Hinkler
After having covered about 2,240 miles
3 600 km.}, the airmen were forced owing
to lack of fuel, to make a landing in the
bush. It was not until they had spent 12
days of untold privation that they were
discovered and rescued. Five days later
they returned in stages to Sydney.
On June 25 they again took off from
Sydney and arrived in London on July 10.
They had flown from Australia (coast) to
England in 12 days 23 hours, thereby
setting up a new record. |
On July 19, 1929, the Southern Cross
was flown over to the Fokker works at
Amsterdam, where it was thoroughly overhauled,
and prepared for the Trans-Atlantic
flight. Titanine dope was used on the
machine for this flight.
As soon as the aeroplane was ready,
Kingsford- Smith, who, with Ulm, had
meanwhile founded the Australian National
Airways, came to Amsterdam. In the
meantime the engines, which had already
run for about 600 hours each, were overhauled
by " Doc " Maidment, an expert
from the Wright works, so that it was
possible to commence the series of test flights
shortly after Kingsford-Smith's arrival.
Nothing ,now remained for Kingsford-
Smith to do but select a crew and wait for
a favourable moment to undertake the
"hop" across the Atlantic. For second
pilot he chose Van Dyk, a K.L.M. pilot ;
for navigator, Capt. Saul ; and for wireless
operator Mr. Stannage, a New Zealander
Technical Details
The following are the specifications of the
Southern Cross as it was when it last left the
Fokker works :—Span. 7 ft. 2 in. (21 • 71 m ) •
Length, 47 ft. 10 in. (14-60 m.) ; height'
!2 ft. 9 in. (3-90 m.) ; wing area, 728 sq. ft.
(67-6 sq. m.) ; wheel track, 14 ft. 1 in.
(4-30 m.) ; weight empty, including complete
equipment, 6,281 lb." (2,850 kg.) ; crew
(4), 661 lb. (300 kg.) ; fuel, 7,855 lb
(3,564 kg.) ; oil, 551 1b. (250 kg.) Total
15,348 1b. (6,964 kg.).
The wing loading is, therefore, 21 Ib./sq. ft.
(103 kg./sq. m.) and the power loading
23 1b./h.p. (10-3 kg./h.p.). The fuel is contained in 4 tanks, in the wing, one tank under
the pilots' cockpit, and one tank in the fuselage. The four
wing tanks and the tank under the cockpit each have a
capacity of 83-3 Imp. gallons, but with a pump only 81 Imp.
gallons can be drawn from the last-mentioned.
The main tank, in the fuselage, has a capacity of 666 Imperial
gallons. The total available quantity is, therefore,
1,080 Imp. gallons. With an average fuel consumption of
about 29 Imp. gallons per hour, this quantity accordingly
represents a maximum of 37 flying hours.
At a cruising speed of 100 m.p.h. (160 km,/hr.), which has
been measured over four courses of 3J miles (6 km.) each,
the range of action in a calm amounts to 3,679 miles (5,920
km). Against a head wind with an average speed of 12£ miles
(20 km.) per hour the range of action is, therefore, practicallv
3,230 miles (5,200 km.).
The distance from Dublin to New York, measured on the
Great Circle (the shortest line from one given point on the
globe to another) is 3,175 miles (5,108 km.). If an allowance
of 10 per cent, is made for deviation from the true course,
the range of action of the Southern Cross was just sufficient
to fly from Dublin to New York.
The fuel tank in the fuselage is fitted with a special dump
valve, designed by Mr. Fokker. By means of the valve,
which is operated by the second pilot, and which has an
opening of 8 in. diameter, the main tank can be emptied in
5J seconds. If, when taking off, the first pilot deems the
machine too heavy under the circumstances (unfavourable
weather or the bad condition of the aerodrome) to carry itself
into the air, he can signal to the second pilot to dump what
fuel is necessary to reduce the total weight to a suitable
figure, so that the machine can be lightened at instant notice.
This safety dump valve may also be used in the event of one
of the engines failing when the machine is still too heavily laden to continue flying on two
engines. In such a case fuel is dumped until the desired weight
is arrived at, and then the airmen either return to the starting point
or fly on to their goal, whichever happens to be easier. If the
worst comes to the worst, and the machine is forced to alight on
water for some reason or other, the airmen can entirely empty
their tank and close the valve. The buoyancy of the machine is
then increased by 3,000 litres or three metric tons. Owing to the
buoyancy of the wing on top. Of this, it would be possible for the
machine to remain afloat for some considerable time. Should the sea
be rough, the possibility is, of course, reduced, but the airmen
will always stand a chance provided the seas are not too high.
The oil (Vacuum) is carried in three tanks to the rear of the
engines. These tanks have a capacity of 17-6 Imp. gallons
each. The engines are gravity fed from the wing tanks, but the fuel
in the main tank and in the reservoir under the cockpit must
first be pumped into the wing tanks before it can be used. For
this purpose a hand pump is used, the handle, which is installed between the two seats
in the cockpit, being operated by the second pilot.
The Instrument Board in the Cockpit
The following instruments (see first illustration on p. 758,
from top to bottom) are installed in the cockpit for the use of
the pilots. A bank and turn indicator before the second
pilot (top right hand). This instrument is specially intended
for blind flying, and comprises a speedometer, a gyroscopic
bank and turn indicator and a transversal inclinometer.
Below this, in the centre, is an aperiodic compass. Then
follow, side by side, the revolution indicators for the three
engines, and an altimeter ; whilst the next row is made up
of a clock, a voltameter for the earth inductor compass—
in order to steer the course set by the navigator, the pilot
must see that the needle is exactly central—a speedometer,
and a small signalling lamp with press button as a means
of communication between the cockpit and the observers'
compartment.
Further, there is a gyroscopic bank and turn indicator for
the first pilot, and also an oil gauge.
On the left-hand side of the instrument board there is a
longitudinal inclinometer (the oblong instrument), and next
to this a rate of climb indicator, and a fuel gauge for the
reservoir under the cockpit.
Lower down there are three knobs for the priming leads of
the engines. The instrument at the bottom of the photo
is an oil thermometer. The oil thermometers and gauges
for the outboard engines are installed in their respective
power eggs. Then follow the handles for gas and altitude
gas, and below these the switches for the lighting installation.
The separate bank and turn indicator is actuated by a
Venturi tube, the combined flight controller and the speedometers
by means of a pitot tube, which is fitted with an
electric element connected with the electric mains, and this
element is placed under current when the tube becomes affected
by snow or ice.
To the rear of the pilots is the fuel distributing system
(see second illustration, on p. 7*58). The gauge glasses for
indicating the level of the fuel are mounted on the wing spar.
The fairly large sized tube seen in the photo is connected
with the main fuel tank, and is intended to let air into this
reservoir quickly when the safety dump valve is used. The
crank handle immediately under the spar is for adjusting the
stabiliser during flight. The arrow " High-Low" shows
which direction it must be turned.
On the left-hand side of the photo will be seen a triangular
hole through which the top of the main tank is visible.
Through this hole the pilots communicate with the other
two members of the crew, in the navigators' compartment,
by means of a stick with a clip at the end. Written messages
are placed in the clip and passed from one compartment to
the other.
The Navigator's Compartment
A general view of the navigator's compartment is shown
above. In the forward part is the main tank, on which
is mounted a speedometer, a volt ameter for the earth inductor
compass to show the navigator whether the pilot is keeping
strictly to the course set, and an altimeter. At the corners
are small lamps for illuminating the instrument board, in
the centre a switch ; and, lower down, on the left, a signalling
lamp.
Under this instrument board is a collapsible chart table,
on which are to be seen a sextant, parallel rulers, and a drift
indicator. In the roof of the compartment is a trap-door,,
which may be slid open when the navigator wishes to make
observations with his sextant. He measures the drift of the
machine by affixing the drift indicator to a bracket, made
for the purpose, on the outside of the fuselage. At the top
right-hand side, attached to one of the tubes in the wall of
the fuselage, is the course-setting indicator of the earth
inductor compass, with which the navigator sets the course
which the pilot is to follow.
On the left is installed the complete wireless set. This
may, however, be seen to better advantage in the illustration
on p. 759. It will be observed that all the wireless instruments
are suspended in shock absorber cord. At the top is
the Marconi transmitter for wave lengths of 600-800 m.
This outfit, which has an energy of 80 watts, is intended for
communicating with ships that work on such wave lengths.
The installation underneath is the receiving set for all wavelengths
ranging from 20- 2,400 m.
The lower box contains a Heinz and Kaufman short-wave
transmitter for wave-lengths of 33-1-33-5 m., and has an
energy of 50 watts. The box with the spare parts for the
wireless installation is on the floor, and next to it will be seen
the reel with the short-wave transmitting aerial. The
aerial for long wave transmission and reception is on the starboard
side, on the floor, opposite the short-wave aerial, but
is not visible in the photo. Mounted on the supports of
the wireless installation are the aerial switches ; the orje top
left being for long waves, the one on the right for short
waves.
On the right, under the receiving set, will be seen the
manipulating key, and immediately under this a transformer.
The batteries for the receiving set are at the bottom. In
the foreground of the photo will be seen the master compass.
At the top right-hand side are several switches and a press
button for the signalling lamp.
About half way between the cabin and the tail skid hangs
the generator of the earth inductor compass, which is driven
by a small wind-mill located on the top of the fuselage.
