EARLY BIRD Well before World War British pioneers produced phenomenal array model aircraft engines Especially engines EL D Bookbinder THE VERY first gasoline-powered model airplanes more-or-less scale models full-size airplanes because fascinating challenge making little ones exactly like big ones out sheer neccessity Since few full-size air planes far managed stagger through air assumed making models similar possible chance too might fly As far back 1908 hobbyists Great Britain leading way building trying fly miniature craft powered small gasoline-fueled engines models large clumsy modern stand ards engines huge slow-turning weak doubt forerunners todays efficient designs considering man-carrying airplanes flying Europe since late 1906 Britain late 1908 gas models far behind Actually very good reason believe least gas model flew Britain before first man-carrying air plane left ground March 1908 David Stanger exhibited 7span model powered air-cooled V-4 reportedly developed /s hp 1300 rpm wasnt until October 1908 Samuel Cody American descendant Buffalo Bill flew first airplane England travelled almost 1400 feet before crashing best Stanger claimed year about 600 feet 16 mph model apparently preceeded airplane Stangers model biplane amazing 45 sq ft wing area fly ing weight some 21 lbs 5 lbs engine counting its 24w-diameter 36-pitch laminated black walnut propel ler todays standards Stangers ma chine about halfway between gas model homebuilt full-size air planes era frighteningly crude must broad-minded passing judgment pioneers show English public world matter got its first look gas model Aeronautical Sec tion Cordingleys Motor Car Exhibi tion held Agricultural Hall Most aeronautical display consisted balloons equipment flying static models taking second place V-2 engine shown builder Leslie Lambert said produce 32 hp 1800 rpm weigh 15 lbs including its carburetor bore stroke 2 giving displacement 12 cu some modern small motorcycles Lambert soon came forth smaller 245-hp engine weighed just 10 lbs cylinders steel heads having cooling fins crankshaft nickel steel ignition system consisted single coil distributor two cylinders carburetor spray type about April 1909 another gas model appeared England being similar 8 Model Aviation Voisin biplanes leading way among European airplanes Builder J D M Tinline used some kind two-cylinder engine known model ever flew Late 1909 C Burkitt backed history books encountering prob lem first time have learned about first-hand years later built gas model could find no place fly case London County Council refused him per mission fly Hampstead Heath 9 more-or-less Bleriot monoplane powered 1-hp Kingdom engine whatever turned ad justable-pitch steel propeller last re port still looking flying field somebody must have solved problem hobby growing January 1910 issue Aeronautics magazine ad petrol motors ranging size ay up full hp cheapest said selling equivalent $250 time single copy Flight cost 2 now its up 50 November 1910 enough activity miniature gas engine hobby warrant British magazine doing roundup different types commer cially available engines least five firms building selling gaso line engines selling steam en gine model planes hap pening England mind because USA no seemed realize such devices existed Perhaps best known model engines came Automobile Aero Sup ply Co three different powerplants stock smallest developing hp one-cylinder design bore stroke 1 weight out flywheel 4 lbs larger single-cyl inder engine 1 bore stroke weighel 6 lbs put out /2- hp twocylinder engine supposedly devel oped 1 hp bores 1 strokes 2 weight 8-9 lbs again flywheel others intake valve opened closed automatically exhaust valve operated pushrod rocker arm similar line engines marketed Cochrane Co -hp -hp sin gles 3-hp twin smallest bore stroke 1 said weigh 4 lbs engines known high quality machining outside well inside something too common 1910 addition Cochrane engines phosphorbronze bearings supporting crankshaft cast aluminum crankcase Davies two-cylinder in-line engine smallest multi-cylinder de signs being 7 tall weighing just 4 lbs bore 1 5/16 stroke l/8 displacement almost 4 cu yet developed yl inders cast individually iron two-piece crankcase aluminum popular engines designed run no 2000 rpm thus needed heavy bulky fly wheels least showed some advanced thinking C B Timperly built one-cyl inder engine weighed just over 4 lbs developed 200 rpm keep weight down used aluminum cyl inder thin steel liner extensive series engines produced H W Porter ranged one-cylinder models producing win-cylinder ones putting out 1 hp Just two different cylinder assemblies used both 2 stroke having bore 1 other 2 All-up weight including flywheel ranged 11 15 lbs floattype carburetors twins hightension distributors used single igni tion coil So primitive piston engines least steam engine approximately equal performance Melton Aeroplane Co built Sphinx steam engine eighed 4 lbs 2 oz including fuel water said capable turning 18-diameter June 1978 9 series Cochrane model engines 3/4hp version said capable 2500 rprfI weighed 8-3/4 lbs aluminum propeller Davies 2-cylinder in-line engine 1910 weighed 9 lbs per horsepower full 7 high center front cylinder has removed right dismantled carburetor Like engines its day produced very limited quantities home 31-pitch propeller 1400 rpm Its little charcoal-fired boiler could produce 250 lbs/sq steam pressure could run 1 minutes its two fluid ounces water engine proper re sembled gasoline type three cylin ders line mechanically operated valves head wasnt long before enough interest among gas model hobbyists justify standard design models first modeler inventor en gineer skilled machin ist early 1911 first set plans building instructions published model near-scale Bleriot mono plane much like airplane Louis Bleriot gaimed immortality flying across English Channel 1909 model real air plane wingspan 7 length 6 41/2 weighed 14 lbs equipped -hp enginewhich accounted 8 lbs total though de signed 1-hp engine designer E Tem ple Robins said several long hops Construction fairly conventional pre-World War period basic frame built -sq ash planed down edges chain ferred off longerons braces other wooden parts held together brass nails braced piano wire wing ribs cut 3/16 canary wood fret saw moun ted ront spar -sq rear spar tail built much same except stabilizer front spar aluminum tube doubled part elevator hinge Temple Robins included breakdown cost materials showed wood followed three yards Pega moid fabric 6 main 10 Model Aviation post-World War 3-cylinder in-line engine built British auto engineer model engine pioneer David Stanger 1914 V2 set duration record stood 18 years 1/2-hp Porter engine 1910 needed 5-1/2-lb flywheel keep going 2000 rpm Since engine cowlings unknown 8-diameter wheel posed few additional problems wheels 4 tail wheel total cost 18 shillings 8 pence figured out about $475 late 1911 hobby attracted much attention Flight begun weekly column subject though its editor V E Johnson seemed have grave doubts about lot claims people about gas models flown gave Stanger full points didnt think anyone else flown though least other model impressed him its airframe engine quite naturally upset some people disagreed him quite strongly representative J Bonn & Co Lon don wrote say built gas model made 50 flights 1911 used several different sets wings 9 14 span propellers 32 40 diameter 24 54 pitch resulted flying weights way 36 45 lbs engine built Mr Mayer reportedly flown high 35 far 2000 engine weighed 8 lbs developed 1 hpat 1500 rpm goal gas modelers days just fly recover model approximately intact Records seemed June1978 11 Maybe first gasoline model engine David Stangers 1-1/4-hp V-4 1907 738 cu displacement turned 30/22 prop 1300 rpm Leslie Lamberts 32-hp V-2 seen London 1908 12-1/2 Cu engine developed full power 1800 rpm weighed 15 lbs complete Automobile & Aerial supply Co. England built line model engines including Late achievement British engineer David Stanger mis 3-cylinder in-line 4-blader 6-lb version 1 -3/4 bore stroke no particular consequence least no bothered getting flight ob served qualified officials claims distance altitude duration could never verified As far known first flight meas ured according rules came April 1914 David Stanger flew gas model 51 seconds timed Royal Aero Club others may have done better succeeding years record re mained books until 1932 Stangers model canard biplane 7 span 10 lbs flying weight powered V-2 engine 37 cu weighed 2 lbs turned 2000 rpm 22 prop going Great Britain activity USA unknown As late 1912 major Ameri can aviation magazine offered big trophy winner contest powered model planes adding would driven either rubber clockwork mechanism since no other type motor known definitely case same time Stanger making first experiments England late Ray Arden starting career American model engine field would eventually bring him worldwide fame Back 1908 already top field though neither nor anyone else apparently realized close association M ring worked gliding pioneer Octave Chaute got 16-year-old Arden started first months 1908 emerged home workshop miniature engine should have made headlines given hobby huge headstart single-cylinder four-cycle engine turned 3000 rpm weighed start ling pound summer 1908 Ray Arden used fly six-foot model reported 100 yards Alexander Gra ham Bell inventor telenhone 12 ModelAviation 4-cycle V-2 used Britisher David Stanger 1914 set duration record 51 seconds 7 canard biplane model engine turned 22/18 prop 2000 rpm earliest English petrol-powered models box-kite-like machine J D M Tinline Although exhibited somewhat conventional biplane configuration coming vogue full-scale also controllable forward surface designers day quite found courage dispense Would classify landing gear being mono-wheel tricycle earliest attempts hold weight down 3/4-hp British engine Charles Timperley weighed 4 lbs. 5 oz early experimenter airplanes im pressed Arden little engine al nothing seems have come 1910 Ray built run twocylinder engine weighed mere 14 ounces rapidly stretched lead over unknown unknowing rivals 1910 engine Arden first experimented glow plug model powered flew far mile deserved fame did come Ray Arden several decades can surmise failure get pre-World War engines pro duction must have heart lack recognition Another American engine olden days though hardly sophistication Ardens tiny creations Midget Gasoline Engine built Aero En gine Co Boston Mass P C McCut chen Philadelphia Pa used 8-foot Voisin-type biplane built 19 1516 seems have made several flights engine produced 700 rpm driving propeller 18 diameter 13 pitch Total weight engine spark plug coil carburetor about 2 lbs men mentioned above individual experimenters rather ganized hobbyists know today engines purchased limited-production hand-made items often failed live up adver tised performance claims ran wasnt until 1934 began really change Brown Jr went in- engines mainstream model mass production brought gasoline plane building flying June1978 13 second pioneer David Stangers V-4 engines 1910 several pounds lighter first yet powerful 1-1/4 hp rare model steam engine 1910the 1/4-hp Melton Sphinx built England would turn 18/13-1/2 propeller 1400 rpm could run 90 seconds two ounces water
Edition: Model Aviation - 1978/06
Page Numbers: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
EARLY BIRD Well before World War British pioneers produced phenomenal array model aircraft engines Especially engines EL D Bookbinder THE VERY first gasoline-powered model airplanes more-or-less scale models full-size airplanes because fascinating challenge making little ones exactly like big ones out sheer neccessity Since few full-size air planes far managed stagger through air assumed making models similar possible chance too might fly As far back 1908 hobbyists Great Britain leading way building trying fly miniature craft powered small gasoline-fueled engines models large clumsy modern stand ards engines huge slow-turning weak doubt forerunners todays efficient designs considering man-carrying airplanes flying Europe since late 1906 Britain late 1908 gas models far behind Actually very good reason believe least gas model flew Britain before first man-carrying air plane left ground March 1908 David Stanger exhibited 7span model powered air-cooled V-4 reportedly developed /s hp 1300 rpm wasnt until October 1908 Samuel Cody American descendant Buffalo Bill flew first airplane England travelled almost 1400 feet before crashing best Stanger claimed year about 600 feet 16 mph model apparently preceeded airplane Stangers model biplane amazing 45 sq ft wing area fly ing weight some 21 lbs 5 lbs engine counting its 24w-diameter 36-pitch laminated black walnut propel ler todays standards Stangers ma chine about halfway between gas model homebuilt full-size air planes era frighteningly crude must broad-minded passing judgment pioneers show English public world matter got its first look gas model Aeronautical Sec tion Cordingleys Motor Car Exhibi tion held Agricultural Hall Most aeronautical display consisted balloons equipment flying static models taking second place V-2 engine shown builder Leslie Lambert said produce 32 hp 1800 rpm weigh 15 lbs including its carburetor bore stroke 2 giving displacement 12 cu some modern small motorcycles Lambert soon came forth smaller 245-hp engine weighed just 10 lbs cylinders steel heads having cooling fins crankshaft nickel steel ignition system consisted single coil distributor two cylinders carburetor spray type about April 1909 another gas model appeared England being similar 8 Model Aviation Voisin biplanes leading way among European airplanes Builder J D M Tinline used some kind two-cylinder engine known model ever flew Late 1909 C Burkitt backed history books encountering prob lem first time have learned about first-hand years later built gas model could find no place fly case London County Council refused him per mission fly Hampstead Heath 9 more-or-less Bleriot monoplane powered 1-hp Kingdom engine whatever turned ad justable-pitch steel propeller last re port still looking flying field somebody must have solved problem hobby growing January 1910 issue Aeronautics magazine ad petrol motors ranging size ay up full hp cheapest said selling equivalent $250 time single copy Flight cost 2 now its up 50 November 1910 enough activity miniature gas engine hobby warrant British magazine doing roundup different types commer cially available engines least five firms building selling gaso line engines selling steam en gine model planes hap pening England mind because USA no seemed realize such devices existed Perhaps best known model engines came Automobile Aero Sup ply Co three different powerplants stock smallest developing hp one-cylinder design bore stroke 1 weight out flywheel 4 lbs larger single-cyl inder engine 1 bore stroke weighel 6 lbs put out /2- hp twocylinder engine supposedly devel oped 1 hp bores 1 strokes 2 weight 8-9 lbs again flywheel others intake valve opened closed automatically exhaust valve operated pushrod rocker arm similar line engines marketed Cochrane Co -hp -hp sin gles 3-hp twin smallest bore stroke 1 said weigh 4 lbs engines known high quality machining outside well inside something too common 1910 addition Cochrane engines phosphorbronze bearings supporting crankshaft cast aluminum crankcase Davies two-cylinder in-line engine smallest multi-cylinder de signs being 7 tall weighing just 4 lbs bore 1 5/16 stroke l/8 displacement almost 4 cu yet developed yl inders cast individually iron two-piece crankcase aluminum popular engines designed run no 2000 rpm thus needed heavy bulky fly wheels least showed some advanced thinking C B Timperly built one-cyl inder engine weighed just over 4 lbs developed 200 rpm keep weight down used aluminum cyl inder thin steel liner extensive series engines produced H W Porter ranged one-cylinder models producing win-cylinder ones putting out 1 hp Just two different cylinder assemblies used both 2 stroke having bore 1 other 2 All-up weight including flywheel ranged 11 15 lbs floattype carburetors twins hightension distributors used single igni tion coil So primitive piston engines least steam engine approximately equal performance Melton Aeroplane Co built Sphinx steam engine eighed 4 lbs 2 oz including fuel water said capable turning 18-diameter June 1978 9 series Cochrane model engines 3/4hp version said capable 2500 rprfI weighed 8-3/4 lbs aluminum propeller Davies 2-cylinder in-line engine 1910 weighed 9 lbs per horsepower full 7 high center front cylinder has removed right dismantled carburetor Like engines its day produced very limited quantities home 31-pitch propeller 1400 rpm Its little charcoal-fired boiler could produce 250 lbs/sq steam pressure could run 1 minutes its two fluid ounces water engine proper re sembled gasoline type three cylin ders line mechanically operated valves head wasnt long before enough interest among gas model hobbyists justify standard design models first modeler inventor en gineer skilled machin ist early 1911 first set plans building instructions published model near-scale Bleriot mono plane much like airplane Louis Bleriot gaimed immortality flying across English Channel 1909 model real air plane wingspan 7 length 6 41/2 weighed 14 lbs equipped -hp enginewhich accounted 8 lbs total though de signed 1-hp engine designer E Tem ple Robins said several long hops Construction fairly conventional pre-World War period basic frame built -sq ash planed down edges chain ferred off longerons braces other wooden parts held together brass nails braced piano wire wing ribs cut 3/16 canary wood fret saw moun ted ront spar -sq rear spar tail built much same except stabilizer front spar aluminum tube doubled part elevator hinge Temple Robins included breakdown cost materials showed wood followed three yards Pega moid fabric 6 main 10 Model Aviation post-World War 3-cylinder in-line engine built British auto engineer model engine pioneer David Stanger 1914 V2 set duration record stood 18 years 1/2-hp Porter engine 1910 needed 5-1/2-lb flywheel keep going 2000 rpm Since engine cowlings unknown 8-diameter wheel posed few additional problems wheels 4 tail wheel total cost 18 shillings 8 pence figured out about $475 late 1911 hobby attracted much attention Flight begun weekly column subject though its editor V E Johnson seemed have grave doubts about lot claims people about gas models flown gave Stanger full points didnt think anyone else flown though least other model impressed him its airframe engine quite naturally upset some people disagreed him quite strongly representative J Bonn & Co Lon don wrote say built gas model made 50 flights 1911 used several different sets wings 9 14 span propellers 32 40 diameter 24 54 pitch resulted flying weights way 36 45 lbs engine built Mr Mayer reportedly flown high 35 far 2000 engine weighed 8 lbs developed 1 hpat 1500 rpm goal gas modelers days just fly recover model approximately intact Records seemed June1978 11 Maybe first gasoline model engine David Stangers 1-1/4-hp V-4 1907 738 cu displacement turned 30/22 prop 1300 rpm Leslie Lamberts 32-hp V-2 seen London 1908 12-1/2 Cu engine developed full power 1800 rpm weighed 15 lbs complete Automobile & Aerial supply Co. England built line model engines including Late achievement British engineer David Stanger mis 3-cylinder in-line 4-blader 6-lb version 1 -3/4 bore stroke no particular consequence least no bothered getting flight ob served qualified officials claims distance altitude duration could never verified As far known first flight meas ured according rules came April 1914 David Stanger flew gas model 51 seconds timed Royal Aero Club others may have done better succeeding years record re mained books until 1932 Stangers model canard biplane 7 span 10 lbs flying weight powered V-2 engine 37 cu weighed 2 lbs turned 2000 rpm 22 prop going Great Britain activity USA unknown As late 1912 major Ameri can aviation magazine offered big trophy winner contest powered model planes adding would driven either rubber clockwork mechanism since no other type motor known definitely case same time Stanger making first experiments England late Ray Arden starting career American model engine field would eventually bring him worldwide fame Back 1908 already top field though neither nor anyone else apparently realized close association M ring worked gliding pioneer Octave Chaute got 16-year-old Arden started first months 1908 emerged home workshop miniature engine should have made headlines given hobby huge headstart single-cylinder four-cycle engine turned 3000 rpm weighed start ling pound summer 1908 Ray Arden used fly six-foot model reported 100 yards Alexander Gra ham Bell inventor telenhone 12 ModelAviation 4-cycle V-2 used Britisher David Stanger 1914 set duration record 51 seconds 7 canard biplane model engine turned 22/18 prop 2000 rpm earliest English petrol-powered models box-kite-like machine J D M Tinline Although exhibited somewhat conventional biplane configuration coming vogue full-scale also controllable forward surface designers day quite found courage dispense Would classify landing gear being mono-wheel tricycle earliest attempts hold weight down 3/4-hp British engine Charles Timperley weighed 4 lbs. 5 oz early experimenter airplanes im pressed Arden little engine al nothing seems have come 1910 Ray built run twocylinder engine weighed mere 14 ounces rapidly stretched lead over unknown unknowing rivals 1910 engine Arden first experimented glow plug model powered flew far mile deserved fame did come Ray Arden several decades can surmise failure get pre-World War engines pro duction must have heart lack recognition Another American engine olden days though hardly sophistication Ardens tiny creations Midget Gasoline Engine built Aero En gine Co Boston Mass P C McCut chen Philadelphia Pa used 8-foot Voisin-type biplane built 19 1516 seems have made several flights engine produced 700 rpm driving propeller 18 diameter 13 pitch Total weight engine spark plug coil carburetor about 2 lbs men mentioned above individual experimenters rather ganized hobbyists know today engines purchased limited-production hand-made items often failed live up adver tised performance claims ran wasnt until 1934 began really change Brown Jr went in- engines mainstream model mass production brought gasoline plane building flying June1978 13 second pioneer David Stangers V-4 engines 1910 several pounds lighter first yet powerful 1-1/4 hp rare model steam engine 1910the 1/4-hp Melton Sphinx built England would turn 18/13-1/2 propeller 1400 rpm could run 90 seconds two ounces water
Edition: Model Aviation - 1978/06
Page Numbers: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
EARLY BIRD Well before World War British pioneers produced phenomenal array model aircraft engines Especially engines EL D Bookbinder THE VERY first gasoline-powered model airplanes more-or-less scale models full-size airplanes because fascinating challenge making little ones exactly like big ones out sheer neccessity Since few full-size air planes far managed stagger through air assumed making models similar possible chance too might fly As far back 1908 hobbyists Great Britain leading way building trying fly miniature craft powered small gasoline-fueled engines models large clumsy modern stand ards engines huge slow-turning weak doubt forerunners todays efficient designs considering man-carrying airplanes flying Europe since late 1906 Britain late 1908 gas models far behind Actually very good reason believe least gas model flew Britain before first man-carrying air plane left ground March 1908 David Stanger exhibited 7span model powered air-cooled V-4 reportedly developed /s hp 1300 rpm wasnt until October 1908 Samuel Cody American descendant Buffalo Bill flew first airplane England travelled almost 1400 feet before crashing best Stanger claimed year about 600 feet 16 mph model apparently preceeded airplane Stangers model biplane amazing 45 sq ft wing area fly ing weight some 21 lbs 5 lbs engine counting its 24w-diameter 36-pitch laminated black walnut propel ler todays standards Stangers ma chine about halfway between gas model homebuilt full-size air planes era frighteningly crude must broad-minded passing judgment pioneers show English public world matter got its first look gas model Aeronautical Sec tion Cordingleys Motor Car Exhibi tion held Agricultural Hall Most aeronautical display consisted balloons equipment flying static models taking second place V-2 engine shown builder Leslie Lambert said produce 32 hp 1800 rpm weigh 15 lbs including its carburetor bore stroke 2 giving displacement 12 cu some modern small motorcycles Lambert soon came forth smaller 245-hp engine weighed just 10 lbs cylinders steel heads having cooling fins crankshaft nickel steel ignition system consisted single coil distributor two cylinders carburetor spray type about April 1909 another gas model appeared England being similar 8 Model Aviation Voisin biplanes leading way among European airplanes Builder J D M Tinline used some kind two-cylinder engine known model ever flew Late 1909 C Burkitt backed history books encountering prob lem first time have learned about first-hand years later built gas model could find no place fly case London County Council refused him per mission fly Hampstead Heath 9 more-or-less Bleriot monoplane powered 1-hp Kingdom engine whatever turned ad justable-pitch steel propeller last re port still looking flying field somebody must have solved problem hobby growing January 1910 issue Aeronautics magazine ad petrol motors ranging size ay up full hp cheapest said selling equivalent $250 time single copy Flight cost 2 now its up 50 November 1910 enough activity miniature gas engine hobby warrant British magazine doing roundup different types commer cially available engines least five firms building selling gaso line engines selling steam en gine model planes hap pening England mind because USA no seemed realize such devices existed Perhaps best known model engines came Automobile Aero Sup ply Co three different powerplants stock smallest developing hp one-cylinder design bore stroke 1 weight out flywheel 4 lbs larger single-cyl inder engine 1 bore stroke weighel 6 lbs put out /2- hp twocylinder engine supposedly devel oped 1 hp bores 1 strokes 2 weight 8-9 lbs again flywheel others intake valve opened closed automatically exhaust valve operated pushrod rocker arm similar line engines marketed Cochrane Co -hp -hp sin gles 3-hp twin smallest bore stroke 1 said weigh 4 lbs engines known high quality machining outside well inside something too common 1910 addition Cochrane engines phosphorbronze bearings supporting crankshaft cast aluminum crankcase Davies two-cylinder in-line engine smallest multi-cylinder de signs being 7 tall weighing just 4 lbs bore 1 5/16 stroke l/8 displacement almost 4 cu yet developed yl inders cast individually iron two-piece crankcase aluminum popular engines designed run no 2000 rpm thus needed heavy bulky fly wheels least showed some advanced thinking C B Timperly built one-cyl inder engine weighed just over 4 lbs developed 200 rpm keep weight down used aluminum cyl inder thin steel liner extensive series engines produced H W Porter ranged one-cylinder models producing win-cylinder ones putting out 1 hp Just two different cylinder assemblies used both 2 stroke having bore 1 other 2 All-up weight including flywheel ranged 11 15 lbs floattype carburetors twins hightension distributors used single igni tion coil So primitive piston engines least steam engine approximately equal performance Melton Aeroplane Co built Sphinx steam engine eighed 4 lbs 2 oz including fuel water said capable turning 18-diameter June 1978 9 series Cochrane model engines 3/4hp version said capable 2500 rprfI weighed 8-3/4 lbs aluminum propeller Davies 2-cylinder in-line engine 1910 weighed 9 lbs per horsepower full 7 high center front cylinder has removed right dismantled carburetor Like engines its day produced very limited quantities home 31-pitch propeller 1400 rpm Its little charcoal-fired boiler could produce 250 lbs/sq steam pressure could run 1 minutes its two fluid ounces water engine proper re sembled gasoline type three cylin ders line mechanically operated valves head wasnt long before enough interest among gas model hobbyists justify standard design models first modeler inventor en gineer skilled machin ist early 1911 first set plans building instructions published model near-scale Bleriot mono plane much like airplane Louis Bleriot gaimed immortality flying across English Channel 1909 model real air plane wingspan 7 length 6 41/2 weighed 14 lbs equipped -hp enginewhich accounted 8 lbs total though de signed 1-hp engine designer E Tem ple Robins said several long hops Construction fairly conventional pre-World War period basic frame built -sq ash planed down edges chain ferred off longerons braces other wooden parts held together brass nails braced piano wire wing ribs cut 3/16 canary wood fret saw moun ted ront spar -sq rear spar tail built much same except stabilizer front spar aluminum tube doubled part elevator hinge Temple Robins included breakdown cost materials showed wood followed three yards Pega moid fabric 6 main 10 Model Aviation post-World War 3-cylinder in-line engine built British auto engineer model engine pioneer David Stanger 1914 V2 set duration record stood 18 years 1/2-hp Porter engine 1910 needed 5-1/2-lb flywheel keep going 2000 rpm Since engine cowlings unknown 8-diameter wheel posed few additional problems wheels 4 tail wheel total cost 18 shillings 8 pence figured out about $475 late 1911 hobby attracted much attention Flight begun weekly column subject though its editor V E Johnson seemed have grave doubts about lot claims people about gas models flown gave Stanger full points didnt think anyone else flown though least other model impressed him its airframe engine quite naturally upset some people disagreed him quite strongly representative J Bonn & Co Lon don wrote say built gas model made 50 flights 1911 used several different sets wings 9 14 span propellers 32 40 diameter 24 54 pitch resulted flying weights way 36 45 lbs engine built Mr Mayer reportedly flown high 35 far 2000 engine weighed 8 lbs developed 1 hpat 1500 rpm goal gas modelers days just fly recover model approximately intact Records seemed June1978 11 Maybe first gasoline model engine David Stangers 1-1/4-hp V-4 1907 738 cu displacement turned 30/22 prop 1300 rpm Leslie Lamberts 32-hp V-2 seen London 1908 12-1/2 Cu engine developed full power 1800 rpm weighed 15 lbs complete Automobile & Aerial supply Co. England built line model engines including Late achievement British engineer David Stanger mis 3-cylinder in-line 4-blader 6-lb version 1 -3/4 bore stroke no particular consequence least no bothered getting flight ob served qualified officials claims distance altitude duration could never verified As far known first flight meas ured according rules came April 1914 David Stanger flew gas model 51 seconds timed Royal Aero Club others may have done better succeeding years record re mained books until 1932 Stangers model canard biplane 7 span 10 lbs flying weight powered V-2 engine 37 cu weighed 2 lbs turned 2000 rpm 22 prop going Great Britain activity USA unknown As late 1912 major Ameri can aviation magazine offered big trophy winner contest powered model planes adding would driven either rubber clockwork mechanism since no other type motor known definitely case same time Stanger making first experiments England late Ray Arden starting career American model engine field would eventually bring him worldwide fame Back 1908 already top field though neither nor anyone else apparently realized close association M ring worked gliding pioneer Octave Chaute got 16-year-old Arden started first months 1908 emerged home workshop miniature engine should have made headlines given hobby huge headstart single-cylinder four-cycle engine turned 3000 rpm weighed start ling pound summer 1908 Ray Arden used fly six-foot model reported 100 yards Alexander Gra ham Bell inventor telenhone 12 ModelAviation 4-cycle V-2 used Britisher David Stanger 1914 set duration record 51 seconds 7 canard biplane model engine turned 22/18 prop 2000 rpm earliest English petrol-powered models box-kite-like machine J D M Tinline Although exhibited somewhat conventional biplane configuration coming vogue full-scale also controllable forward surface designers day quite found courage dispense Would classify landing gear being mono-wheel tricycle earliest attempts hold weight down 3/4-hp British engine Charles Timperley weighed 4 lbs. 5 oz early experimenter airplanes im pressed Arden little engine al nothing seems have come 1910 Ray built run twocylinder engine weighed mere 14 ounces rapidly stretched lead over unknown unknowing rivals 1910 engine Arden first experimented glow plug model powered flew far mile deserved fame did come Ray Arden several decades can surmise failure get pre-World War engines pro duction must have heart lack recognition Another American engine olden days though hardly sophistication Ardens tiny creations Midget Gasoline Engine built Aero En gine Co Boston Mass P C McCut chen Philadelphia Pa used 8-foot Voisin-type biplane built 19 1516 seems have made several flights engine produced 700 rpm driving propeller 18 diameter 13 pitch Total weight engine spark plug coil carburetor about 2 lbs men mentioned above individual experimenters rather ganized hobbyists know today engines purchased limited-production hand-made items often failed live up adver tised performance claims ran wasnt until 1934 began really change Brown Jr went in- engines mainstream model mass production brought gasoline plane building flying June1978 13 second pioneer David Stangers V-4 engines 1910 several pounds lighter first yet powerful 1-1/4 hp rare model steam engine 1910the 1/4-hp Melton Sphinx built England would turn 18/13-1/2 propeller 1400 rpm could run 90 seconds two ounces water
Edition: Model Aviation - 1978/06
Page Numbers: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
EARLY BIRD Well before World War British pioneers produced phenomenal array model aircraft engines Especially engines EL D Bookbinder THE VERY first gasoline-powered model airplanes more-or-less scale models full-size airplanes because fascinating challenge making little ones exactly like big ones out sheer neccessity Since few full-size air planes far managed stagger through air assumed making models similar possible chance too might fly As far back 1908 hobbyists Great Britain leading way building trying fly miniature craft powered small gasoline-fueled engines models large clumsy modern stand ards engines huge slow-turning weak doubt forerunners todays efficient designs considering man-carrying airplanes flying Europe since late 1906 Britain late 1908 gas models far behind Actually very good reason believe least gas model flew Britain before first man-carrying air plane left ground March 1908 David Stanger exhibited 7span model powered air-cooled V-4 reportedly developed /s hp 1300 rpm wasnt until October 1908 Samuel Cody American descendant Buffalo Bill flew first airplane England travelled almost 1400 feet before crashing best Stanger claimed year about 600 feet 16 mph model apparently preceeded airplane Stangers model biplane amazing 45 sq ft wing area fly ing weight some 21 lbs 5 lbs engine counting its 24w-diameter 36-pitch laminated black walnut propel ler todays standards Stangers ma chine about halfway between gas model homebuilt full-size air planes era frighteningly crude must broad-minded passing judgment pioneers show English public world matter got its first look gas model Aeronautical Sec tion Cordingleys Motor Car Exhibi tion held Agricultural Hall Most aeronautical display consisted balloons equipment flying static models taking second place V-2 engine shown builder Leslie Lambert said produce 32 hp 1800 rpm weigh 15 lbs including its carburetor bore stroke 2 giving displacement 12 cu some modern small motorcycles Lambert soon came forth smaller 245-hp engine weighed just 10 lbs cylinders steel heads having cooling fins crankshaft nickel steel ignition system consisted single coil distributor two cylinders carburetor spray type about April 1909 another gas model appeared England being similar 8 Model Aviation Voisin biplanes leading way among European airplanes Builder J D M Tinline used some kind two-cylinder engine known model ever flew Late 1909 C Burkitt backed history books encountering prob lem first time have learned about first-hand years later built gas model could find no place fly case London County Council refused him per mission fly Hampstead Heath 9 more-or-less Bleriot monoplane powered 1-hp Kingdom engine whatever turned ad justable-pitch steel propeller last re port still looking flying field somebody must have solved problem hobby growing January 1910 issue Aeronautics magazine ad petrol motors ranging size ay up full hp cheapest said selling equivalent $250 time single copy Flight cost 2 now its up 50 November 1910 enough activity miniature gas engine hobby warrant British magazine doing roundup different types commer cially available engines least five firms building selling gaso line engines selling steam en gine model planes hap pening England mind because USA no seemed realize such devices existed Perhaps best known model engines came Automobile Aero Sup ply Co three different powerplants stock smallest developing hp one-cylinder design bore stroke 1 weight out flywheel 4 lbs larger single-cyl inder engine 1 bore stroke weighel 6 lbs put out /2- hp twocylinder engine supposedly devel oped 1 hp bores 1 strokes 2 weight 8-9 lbs again flywheel others intake valve opened closed automatically exhaust valve operated pushrod rocker arm similar line engines marketed Cochrane Co -hp -hp sin gles 3-hp twin smallest bore stroke 1 said weigh 4 lbs engines known high quality machining outside well inside something too common 1910 addition Cochrane engines phosphorbronze bearings supporting crankshaft cast aluminum crankcase Davies two-cylinder in-line engine smallest multi-cylinder de signs being 7 tall weighing just 4 lbs bore 1 5/16 stroke l/8 displacement almost 4 cu yet developed yl inders cast individually iron two-piece crankcase aluminum popular engines designed run no 2000 rpm thus needed heavy bulky fly wheels least showed some advanced thinking C B Timperly built one-cyl inder engine weighed just over 4 lbs developed 200 rpm keep weight down used aluminum cyl inder thin steel liner extensive series engines produced H W Porter ranged one-cylinder models producing win-cylinder ones putting out 1 hp Just two different cylinder assemblies used both 2 stroke having bore 1 other 2 All-up weight including flywheel ranged 11 15 lbs floattype carburetors twins hightension distributors used single igni tion coil So primitive piston engines least steam engine approximately equal performance Melton Aeroplane Co built Sphinx steam engine eighed 4 lbs 2 oz including fuel water said capable turning 18-diameter June 1978 9 series Cochrane model engines 3/4hp version said capable 2500 rprfI weighed 8-3/4 lbs aluminum propeller Davies 2-cylinder in-line engine 1910 weighed 9 lbs per horsepower full 7 high center front cylinder has removed right dismantled carburetor Like engines its day produced very limited quantities home 31-pitch propeller 1400 rpm Its little charcoal-fired boiler could produce 250 lbs/sq steam pressure could run 1 minutes its two fluid ounces water engine proper re sembled gasoline type three cylin ders line mechanically operated valves head wasnt long before enough interest among gas model hobbyists justify standard design models first modeler inventor en gineer skilled machin ist early 1911 first set plans building instructions published model near-scale Bleriot mono plane much like airplane Louis Bleriot gaimed immortality flying across English Channel 1909 model real air plane wingspan 7 length 6 41/2 weighed 14 lbs equipped -hp enginewhich accounted 8 lbs total though de signed 1-hp engine designer E Tem ple Robins said several long hops Construction fairly conventional pre-World War period basic frame built -sq ash planed down edges chain ferred off longerons braces other wooden parts held together brass nails braced piano wire wing ribs cut 3/16 canary wood fret saw moun ted ront spar -sq rear spar tail built much same except stabilizer front spar aluminum tube doubled part elevator hinge Temple Robins included breakdown cost materials showed wood followed three yards Pega moid fabric 6 main 10 Model Aviation post-World War 3-cylinder in-line engine built British auto engineer model engine pioneer David Stanger 1914 V2 set duration record stood 18 years 1/2-hp Porter engine 1910 needed 5-1/2-lb flywheel keep going 2000 rpm Since engine cowlings unknown 8-diameter wheel posed few additional problems wheels 4 tail wheel total cost 18 shillings 8 pence figured out about $475 late 1911 hobby attracted much attention Flight begun weekly column subject though its editor V E Johnson seemed have grave doubts about lot claims people about gas models flown gave Stanger full points didnt think anyone else flown though least other model impressed him its airframe engine quite naturally upset some people disagreed him quite strongly representative J Bonn & Co Lon don wrote say built gas model made 50 flights 1911 used several different sets wings 9 14 span propellers 32 40 diameter 24 54 pitch resulted flying weights way 36 45 lbs engine built Mr Mayer reportedly flown high 35 far 2000 engine weighed 8 lbs developed 1 hpat 1500 rpm goal gas modelers days just fly recover model approximately intact Records seemed June1978 11 Maybe first gasoline model engine David Stangers 1-1/4-hp V-4 1907 738 cu displacement turned 30/22 prop 1300 rpm Leslie Lamberts 32-hp V-2 seen London 1908 12-1/2 Cu engine developed full power 1800 rpm weighed 15 lbs complete Automobile & Aerial supply Co. England built line model engines including Late achievement British engineer David Stanger mis 3-cylinder in-line 4-blader 6-lb version 1 -3/4 bore stroke no particular consequence least no bothered getting flight ob served qualified officials claims distance altitude duration could never verified As far known first flight meas ured according rules came April 1914 David Stanger flew gas model 51 seconds timed Royal Aero Club others may have done better succeeding years record re mained books until 1932 Stangers model canard biplane 7 span 10 lbs flying weight powered V-2 engine 37 cu weighed 2 lbs turned 2000 rpm 22 prop going Great Britain activity USA unknown As late 1912 major Ameri can aviation magazine offered big trophy winner contest powered model planes adding would driven either rubber clockwork mechanism since no other type motor known definitely case same time Stanger making first experiments England late Ray Arden starting career American model engine field would eventually bring him worldwide fame Back 1908 already top field though neither nor anyone else apparently realized close association M ring worked gliding pioneer Octave Chaute got 16-year-old Arden started first months 1908 emerged home workshop miniature engine should have made headlines given hobby huge headstart single-cylinder four-cycle engine turned 3000 rpm weighed start ling pound summer 1908 Ray Arden used fly six-foot model reported 100 yards Alexander Gra ham Bell inventor telenhone 12 ModelAviation 4-cycle V-2 used Britisher David Stanger 1914 set duration record 51 seconds 7 canard biplane model engine turned 22/18 prop 2000 rpm earliest English petrol-powered models box-kite-like machine J D M Tinline Although exhibited somewhat conventional biplane configuration coming vogue full-scale also controllable forward surface designers day quite found courage dispense Would classify landing gear being mono-wheel tricycle earliest attempts hold weight down 3/4-hp British engine Charles Timperley weighed 4 lbs. 5 oz early experimenter airplanes im pressed Arden little engine al nothing seems have come 1910 Ray built run twocylinder engine weighed mere 14 ounces rapidly stretched lead over unknown unknowing rivals 1910 engine Arden first experimented glow plug model powered flew far mile deserved fame did come Ray Arden several decades can surmise failure get pre-World War engines pro duction must have heart lack recognition Another American engine olden days though hardly sophistication Ardens tiny creations Midget Gasoline Engine built Aero En gine Co Boston Mass P C McCut chen Philadelphia Pa used 8-foot Voisin-type biplane built 19 1516 seems have made several flights engine produced 700 rpm driving propeller 18 diameter 13 pitch Total weight engine spark plug coil carburetor about 2 lbs men mentioned above individual experimenters rather ganized hobbyists know today engines purchased limited-production hand-made items often failed live up adver tised performance claims ran wasnt until 1934 began really change Brown Jr went in- engines mainstream model mass production brought gasoline plane building flying June1978 13 second pioneer David Stangers V-4 engines 1910 several pounds lighter first yet powerful 1-1/4 hp rare model steam engine 1910the 1/4-hp Melton Sphinx built England would turn 18/13-1/2 propeller 1400 rpm could run 90 seconds two ounces water
Edition: Model Aviation - 1978/06
Page Numbers: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
EARLY BIRD Well before World War British pioneers produced phenomenal array model aircraft engines Especially engines EL D Bookbinder THE VERY first gasoline-powered model airplanes more-or-less scale models full-size airplanes because fascinating challenge making little ones exactly like big ones out sheer neccessity Since few full-size air planes far managed stagger through air assumed making models similar possible chance too might fly As far back 1908 hobbyists Great Britain leading way building trying fly miniature craft powered small gasoline-fueled engines models large clumsy modern stand ards engines huge slow-turning weak doubt forerunners todays efficient designs considering man-carrying airplanes flying Europe since late 1906 Britain late 1908 gas models far behind Actually very good reason believe least gas model flew Britain before first man-carrying air plane left ground March 1908 David Stanger exhibited 7span model powered air-cooled V-4 reportedly developed /s hp 1300 rpm wasnt until October 1908 Samuel Cody American descendant Buffalo Bill flew first airplane England travelled almost 1400 feet before crashing best Stanger claimed year about 600 feet 16 mph model apparently preceeded airplane Stangers model biplane amazing 45 sq ft wing area fly ing weight some 21 lbs 5 lbs engine counting its 24w-diameter 36-pitch laminated black walnut propel ler todays standards Stangers ma chine about halfway between gas model homebuilt full-size air planes era frighteningly crude must broad-minded passing judgment pioneers show English public world matter got its first look gas model Aeronautical Sec tion Cordingleys Motor Car Exhibi tion held Agricultural Hall Most aeronautical display consisted balloons equipment flying static models taking second place V-2 engine shown builder Leslie Lambert said produce 32 hp 1800 rpm weigh 15 lbs including its carburetor bore stroke 2 giving displacement 12 cu some modern small motorcycles Lambert soon came forth smaller 245-hp engine weighed just 10 lbs cylinders steel heads having cooling fins crankshaft nickel steel ignition system consisted single coil distributor two cylinders carburetor spray type about April 1909 another gas model appeared England being similar 8 Model Aviation Voisin biplanes leading way among European airplanes Builder J D M Tinline used some kind two-cylinder engine known model ever flew Late 1909 C Burkitt backed history books encountering prob lem first time have learned about first-hand years later built gas model could find no place fly case London County Council refused him per mission fly Hampstead Heath 9 more-or-less Bleriot monoplane powered 1-hp Kingdom engine whatever turned ad justable-pitch steel propeller last re port still looking flying field somebody must have solved problem hobby growing January 1910 issue Aeronautics magazine ad petrol motors ranging size ay up full hp cheapest said selling equivalent $250 time single copy Flight cost 2 now its up 50 November 1910 enough activity miniature gas engine hobby warrant British magazine doing roundup different types commer cially available engines least five firms building selling gaso line engines selling steam en gine model planes hap pening England mind because USA no seemed realize such devices existed Perhaps best known model engines came Automobile Aero Sup ply Co three different powerplants stock smallest developing hp one-cylinder design bore stroke 1 weight out flywheel 4 lbs larger single-cyl inder engine 1 bore stroke weighel 6 lbs put out /2- hp twocylinder engine supposedly devel oped 1 hp bores 1 strokes 2 weight 8-9 lbs again flywheel others intake valve opened closed automatically exhaust valve operated pushrod rocker arm similar line engines marketed Cochrane Co -hp -hp sin gles 3-hp twin smallest bore stroke 1 said weigh 4 lbs engines known high quality machining outside well inside something too common 1910 addition Cochrane engines phosphorbronze bearings supporting crankshaft cast aluminum crankcase Davies two-cylinder in-line engine smallest multi-cylinder de signs being 7 tall weighing just 4 lbs bore 1 5/16 stroke l/8 displacement almost 4 cu yet developed yl inders cast individually iron two-piece crankcase aluminum popular engines designed run no 2000 rpm thus needed heavy bulky fly wheels least showed some advanced thinking C B Timperly built one-cyl inder engine weighed just over 4 lbs developed 200 rpm keep weight down used aluminum cyl inder thin steel liner extensive series engines produced H W Porter ranged one-cylinder models producing win-cylinder ones putting out 1 hp Just two different cylinder assemblies used both 2 stroke having bore 1 other 2 All-up weight including flywheel ranged 11 15 lbs floattype carburetors twins hightension distributors used single igni tion coil So primitive piston engines least steam engine approximately equal performance Melton Aeroplane Co built Sphinx steam engine eighed 4 lbs 2 oz including fuel water said capable turning 18-diameter June 1978 9 series Cochrane model engines 3/4hp version said capable 2500 rprfI weighed 8-3/4 lbs aluminum propeller Davies 2-cylinder in-line engine 1910 weighed 9 lbs per horsepower full 7 high center front cylinder has removed right dismantled carburetor Like engines its day produced very limited quantities home 31-pitch propeller 1400 rpm Its little charcoal-fired boiler could produce 250 lbs/sq steam pressure could run 1 minutes its two fluid ounces water engine proper re sembled gasoline type three cylin ders line mechanically operated valves head wasnt long before enough interest among gas model hobbyists justify standard design models first modeler inventor en gineer skilled machin ist early 1911 first set plans building instructions published model near-scale Bleriot mono plane much like airplane Louis Bleriot gaimed immortality flying across English Channel 1909 model real air plane wingspan 7 length 6 41/2 weighed 14 lbs equipped -hp enginewhich accounted 8 lbs total though de signed 1-hp engine designer E Tem ple Robins said several long hops Construction fairly conventional pre-World War period basic frame built -sq ash planed down edges chain ferred off longerons braces other wooden parts held together brass nails braced piano wire wing ribs cut 3/16 canary wood fret saw moun ted ront spar -sq rear spar tail built much same except stabilizer front spar aluminum tube doubled part elevator hinge Temple Robins included breakdown cost materials showed wood followed three yards Pega moid fabric 6 main 10 Model Aviation post-World War 3-cylinder in-line engine built British auto engineer model engine pioneer David Stanger 1914 V2 set duration record stood 18 years 1/2-hp Porter engine 1910 needed 5-1/2-lb flywheel keep going 2000 rpm Since engine cowlings unknown 8-diameter wheel posed few additional problems wheels 4 tail wheel total cost 18 shillings 8 pence figured out about $475 late 1911 hobby attracted much attention Flight begun weekly column subject though its editor V E Johnson seemed have grave doubts about lot claims people about gas models flown gave Stanger full points didnt think anyone else flown though least other model impressed him its airframe engine quite naturally upset some people disagreed him quite strongly representative J Bonn & Co Lon don wrote say built gas model made 50 flights 1911 used several different sets wings 9 14 span propellers 32 40 diameter 24 54 pitch resulted flying weights way 36 45 lbs engine built Mr Mayer reportedly flown high 35 far 2000 engine weighed 8 lbs developed 1 hpat 1500 rpm goal gas modelers days just fly recover model approximately intact Records seemed June1978 11 Maybe first gasoline model engine David Stangers 1-1/4-hp V-4 1907 738 cu displacement turned 30/22 prop 1300 rpm Leslie Lamberts 32-hp V-2 seen London 1908 12-1/2 Cu engine developed full power 1800 rpm weighed 15 lbs complete Automobile & Aerial supply Co. England built line model engines including Late achievement British engineer David Stanger mis 3-cylinder in-line 4-blader 6-lb version 1 -3/4 bore stroke no particular consequence least no bothered getting flight ob served qualified officials claims distance altitude duration could never verified As far known first flight meas ured according rules came April 1914 David Stanger flew gas model 51 seconds timed Royal Aero Club others may have done better succeeding years record re mained books until 1932 Stangers model canard biplane 7 span 10 lbs flying weight powered V-2 engine 37 cu weighed 2 lbs turned 2000 rpm 22 prop going Great Britain activity USA unknown As late 1912 major Ameri can aviation magazine offered big trophy winner contest powered model planes adding would driven either rubber clockwork mechanism since no other type motor known definitely case same time Stanger making first experiments England late Ray Arden starting career American model engine field would eventually bring him worldwide fame Back 1908 already top field though neither nor anyone else apparently realized close association M ring worked gliding pioneer Octave Chaute got 16-year-old Arden started first months 1908 emerged home workshop miniature engine should have made headlines given hobby huge headstart single-cylinder four-cycle engine turned 3000 rpm weighed start ling pound summer 1908 Ray Arden used fly six-foot model reported 100 yards Alexander Gra ham Bell inventor telenhone 12 ModelAviation 4-cycle V-2 used Britisher David Stanger 1914 set duration record 51 seconds 7 canard biplane model engine turned 22/18 prop 2000 rpm earliest English petrol-powered models box-kite-like machine J D M Tinline Although exhibited somewhat conventional biplane configuration coming vogue full-scale also controllable forward surface designers day quite found courage dispense Would classify landing gear being mono-wheel tricycle earliest attempts hold weight down 3/4-hp British engine Charles Timperley weighed 4 lbs. 5 oz early experimenter airplanes im pressed Arden little engine al nothing seems have come 1910 Ray built run twocylinder engine weighed mere 14 ounces rapidly stretched lead over unknown unknowing rivals 1910 engine Arden first experimented glow plug model powered flew far mile deserved fame did come Ray Arden several decades can surmise failure get pre-World War engines pro duction must have heart lack recognition Another American engine olden days though hardly sophistication Ardens tiny creations Midget Gasoline Engine built Aero En gine Co Boston Mass P C McCut chen Philadelphia Pa used 8-foot Voisin-type biplane built 19 1516 seems have made several flights engine produced 700 rpm driving propeller 18 diameter 13 pitch Total weight engine spark plug coil carburetor about 2 lbs men mentioned above individual experimenters rather ganized hobbyists know today engines purchased limited-production hand-made items often failed live up adver tised performance claims ran wasnt until 1934 began really change Brown Jr went in- engines mainstream model mass production brought gasoline plane building flying June1978 13 second pioneer David Stangers V-4 engines 1910 several pounds lighter first yet powerful 1-1/4 hp rare model steam engine 1910the 1/4-hp Melton Sphinx built England would turn 18/13-1/2 propeller 1400 rpm could run 90 seconds two ounces water
Edition: Model Aviation - 1978/06
Page Numbers: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
EARLY BIRD Well before World War British pioneers produced phenomenal array model aircraft engines Especially engines EL D Bookbinder THE VERY first gasoline-powered model airplanes more-or-less scale models full-size airplanes because fascinating challenge making little ones exactly like big ones out sheer neccessity Since few full-size air planes far managed stagger through air assumed making models similar possible chance too might fly As far back 1908 hobbyists Great Britain leading way building trying fly miniature craft powered small gasoline-fueled engines models large clumsy modern stand ards engines huge slow-turning weak doubt forerunners todays efficient designs considering man-carrying airplanes flying Europe since late 1906 Britain late 1908 gas models far behind Actually very good reason believe least gas model flew Britain before first man-carrying air plane left ground March 1908 David Stanger exhibited 7span model powered air-cooled V-4 reportedly developed /s hp 1300 rpm wasnt until October 1908 Samuel Cody American descendant Buffalo Bill flew first airplane England travelled almost 1400 feet before crashing best Stanger claimed year about 600 feet 16 mph model apparently preceeded airplane Stangers model biplane amazing 45 sq ft wing area fly ing weight some 21 lbs 5 lbs engine counting its 24w-diameter 36-pitch laminated black walnut propel ler todays standards Stangers ma chine about halfway between gas model homebuilt full-size air planes era frighteningly crude must broad-minded passing judgment pioneers show English public world matter got its first look gas model Aeronautical Sec tion Cordingleys Motor Car Exhibi tion held Agricultural Hall Most aeronautical display consisted balloons equipment flying static models taking second place V-2 engine shown builder Leslie Lambert said produce 32 hp 1800 rpm weigh 15 lbs including its carburetor bore stroke 2 giving displacement 12 cu some modern small motorcycles Lambert soon came forth smaller 245-hp engine weighed just 10 lbs cylinders steel heads having cooling fins crankshaft nickel steel ignition system consisted single coil distributor two cylinders carburetor spray type about April 1909 another gas model appeared England being similar 8 Model Aviation Voisin biplanes leading way among European airplanes Builder J D M Tinline used some kind two-cylinder engine known model ever flew Late 1909 C Burkitt backed history books encountering prob lem first time have learned about first-hand years later built gas model could find no place fly case London County Council refused him per mission fly Hampstead Heath 9 more-or-less Bleriot monoplane powered 1-hp Kingdom engine whatever turned ad justable-pitch steel propeller last re port still looking flying field somebody must have solved problem hobby growing January 1910 issue Aeronautics magazine ad petrol motors ranging size ay up full hp cheapest said selling equivalent $250 time single copy Flight cost 2 now its up 50 November 1910 enough activity miniature gas engine hobby warrant British magazine doing roundup different types commer cially available engines least five firms building selling gaso line engines selling steam en gine model planes hap pening England mind because USA no seemed realize such devices existed Perhaps best known model engines came Automobile Aero Sup ply Co three different powerplants stock smallest developing hp one-cylinder design bore stroke 1 weight out flywheel 4 lbs larger single-cyl inder engine 1 bore stroke weighel 6 lbs put out /2- hp twocylinder engine supposedly devel oped 1 hp bores 1 strokes 2 weight 8-9 lbs again flywheel others intake valve opened closed automatically exhaust valve operated pushrod rocker arm similar line engines marketed Cochrane Co -hp -hp sin gles 3-hp twin smallest bore stroke 1 said weigh 4 lbs engines known high quality machining outside well inside something too common 1910 addition Cochrane engines phosphorbronze bearings supporting crankshaft cast aluminum crankcase Davies two-cylinder in-line engine smallest multi-cylinder de signs being 7 tall weighing just 4 lbs bore 1 5/16 stroke l/8 displacement almost 4 cu yet developed yl inders cast individually iron two-piece crankcase aluminum popular engines designed run no 2000 rpm thus needed heavy bulky fly wheels least showed some advanced thinking C B Timperly built one-cyl inder engine weighed just over 4 lbs developed 200 rpm keep weight down used aluminum cyl inder thin steel liner extensive series engines produced H W Porter ranged one-cylinder models producing win-cylinder ones putting out 1 hp Just two different cylinder assemblies used both 2 stroke having bore 1 other 2 All-up weight including flywheel ranged 11 15 lbs floattype carburetors twins hightension distributors used single igni tion coil So primitive piston engines least steam engine approximately equal performance Melton Aeroplane Co built Sphinx steam engine eighed 4 lbs 2 oz including fuel water said capable turning 18-diameter June 1978 9 series Cochrane model engines 3/4hp version said capable 2500 rprfI weighed 8-3/4 lbs aluminum propeller Davies 2-cylinder in-line engine 1910 weighed 9 lbs per horsepower full 7 high center front cylinder has removed right dismantled carburetor Like engines its day produced very limited quantities home 31-pitch propeller 1400 rpm Its little charcoal-fired boiler could produce 250 lbs/sq steam pressure could run 1 minutes its two fluid ounces water engine proper re sembled gasoline type three cylin ders line mechanically operated valves head wasnt long before enough interest among gas model hobbyists justify standard design models first modeler inventor en gineer skilled machin ist early 1911 first set plans building instructions published model near-scale Bleriot mono plane much like airplane Louis Bleriot gaimed immortality flying across English Channel 1909 model real air plane wingspan 7 length 6 41/2 weighed 14 lbs equipped -hp enginewhich accounted 8 lbs total though de signed 1-hp engine designer E Tem ple Robins said several long hops Construction fairly conventional pre-World War period basic frame built -sq ash planed down edges chain ferred off longerons braces other wooden parts held together brass nails braced piano wire wing ribs cut 3/16 canary wood fret saw moun ted ront spar -sq rear spar tail built much same except stabilizer front spar aluminum tube doubled part elevator hinge Temple Robins included breakdown cost materials showed wood followed three yards Pega moid fabric 6 main 10 Model Aviation post-World War 3-cylinder in-line engine built British auto engineer model engine pioneer David Stanger 1914 V2 set duration record stood 18 years 1/2-hp Porter engine 1910 needed 5-1/2-lb flywheel keep going 2000 rpm Since engine cowlings unknown 8-diameter wheel posed few additional problems wheels 4 tail wheel total cost 18 shillings 8 pence figured out about $475 late 1911 hobby attracted much attention Flight begun weekly column subject though its editor V E Johnson seemed have grave doubts about lot claims people about gas models flown gave Stanger full points didnt think anyone else flown though least other model impressed him its airframe engine quite naturally upset some people disagreed him quite strongly representative J Bonn & Co Lon don wrote say built gas model made 50 flights 1911 used several different sets wings 9 14 span propellers 32 40 diameter 24 54 pitch resulted flying weights way 36 45 lbs engine built Mr Mayer reportedly flown high 35 far 2000 engine weighed 8 lbs developed 1 hpat 1500 rpm goal gas modelers days just fly recover model approximately intact Records seemed June1978 11 Maybe first gasoline model engine David Stangers 1-1/4-hp V-4 1907 738 cu displacement turned 30/22 prop 1300 rpm Leslie Lamberts 32-hp V-2 seen London 1908 12-1/2 Cu engine developed full power 1800 rpm weighed 15 lbs complete Automobile & Aerial supply Co. England built line model engines including Late achievement British engineer David Stanger mis 3-cylinder in-line 4-blader 6-lb version 1 -3/4 bore stroke no particular consequence least no bothered getting flight ob served qualified officials claims distance altitude duration could never verified As far known first flight meas ured according rules came April 1914 David Stanger flew gas model 51 seconds timed Royal Aero Club others may have done better succeeding years record re mained books until 1932 Stangers model canard biplane 7 span 10 lbs flying weight powered V-2 engine 37 cu weighed 2 lbs turned 2000 rpm 22 prop going Great Britain activity USA unknown As late 1912 major Ameri can aviation magazine offered big trophy winner contest powered model planes adding would driven either rubber clockwork mechanism since no other type motor known definitely case same time Stanger making first experiments England late Ray Arden starting career American model engine field would eventually bring him worldwide fame Back 1908 already top field though neither nor anyone else apparently realized close association M ring worked gliding pioneer Octave Chaute got 16-year-old Arden started first months 1908 emerged home workshop miniature engine should have made headlines given hobby huge headstart single-cylinder four-cycle engine turned 3000 rpm weighed start ling pound summer 1908 Ray Arden used fly six-foot model reported 100 yards Alexander Gra ham Bell inventor telenhone 12 ModelAviation 4-cycle V-2 used Britisher David Stanger 1914 set duration record 51 seconds 7 canard biplane model engine turned 22/18 prop 2000 rpm earliest English petrol-powered models box-kite-like machine J D M Tinline Although exhibited somewhat conventional biplane configuration coming vogue full-scale also controllable forward surface designers day quite found courage dispense Would classify landing gear being mono-wheel tricycle earliest attempts hold weight down 3/4-hp British engine Charles Timperley weighed 4 lbs. 5 oz early experimenter airplanes im pressed Arden little engine al nothing seems have come 1910 Ray built run twocylinder engine weighed mere 14 ounces rapidly stretched lead over unknown unknowing rivals 1910 engine Arden first experimented glow plug model powered flew far mile deserved fame did come Ray Arden several decades can surmise failure get pre-World War engines pro duction must have heart lack recognition Another American engine olden days though hardly sophistication Ardens tiny creations Midget Gasoline Engine built Aero En gine Co Boston Mass P C McCut chen Philadelphia Pa used 8-foot Voisin-type biplane built 19 1516 seems have made several flights engine produced 700 rpm driving propeller 18 diameter 13 pitch Total weight engine spark plug coil carburetor about 2 lbs men mentioned above individual experimenters rather ganized hobbyists know today engines purchased limited-production hand-made items often failed live up adver tised performance claims ran wasnt until 1934 began really change Brown Jr went in- engines mainstream model mass production brought gasoline plane building flying June1978 13 second pioneer David Stangers V-4 engines 1910 several pounds lighter first yet powerful 1-1/4 hp rare model steam engine 1910the 1/4-hp Melton Sphinx built England would turn 18/13-1/2 propeller 1400 rpm could run 90 seconds two ounces water