Evening star., 1932-02-28

formed and accurate British publication
the Aeroplane.
The new plane, a challenge to the
air powers of every nation on earth
is a low-wing monoplane and is Of the
| interceptor fighter type developed for
| the defense of London. Produced by
the noted Vickers plant, the plane is
known as the Jockey.
The plane is all metal except the
| fabric covering of the fuselage and tail
members, the wings being covered with
sheet duralumin over duralumin spars
! and ribs. The forward half Of the
fuselage frame is of steel tubing and
aluminium panels and the rear section
! Is built up from duralumin sheet and
angles. The tail unit Is of the canti-
lever monoplane type, the frame OF
duralumin.
The landing gear is Of the divided
| type, with steel wheel-fairingS or
pants" as they are known in this
country. Oleo-pneumatic-shock absorb
ers and hyraulic wheel brakes are used.
Air Cooled Engine Used.
The plane is powered with the Bristol
Mercury IV.52 supercharged radial air
cooled engine, delivering $50 horsepower
at 1900 revolutions per minute at
15,8 800 feet. 1t drives a two-bladed metal
propeller through gears timed to ratio
of 656 to /. The Townend cowling
ring is used. Main and gravity tanks
hold 6212 gallons of gasoline, delivered
by engine driven pump, with hand
pump auxiliary.
The single cockpit is placed over the
rear spar of the monoplane wing, with
excellent visibility forward. Conven-
tional controls are employed.
The plane is armed with two machine
guns, mounted on either side OF the fu-
selage and synchronized to fire through
the propeller. Six hundred rounds OF
ammunition may be carried for each
gun.
Dimensions of this wicked little
fighter are: Span, 80 feet inches,
overall length, % feet; overall height, 8
feet inches; wing area, $50 square
feet The weight empty. with all in
struments, is 2,377 pounds and fully
loaded 3,270 pounds, the load being
divided as follows: Pilot, 180 pounds;
fuel, 1872 pounds; oil, so pounds, and
military load, 271 pounds.
For the benefit of those interested In
the technical details, the wing loading
is 21.8 pounds per square foot and the
power loading, at the $50 maximum
brake-horsepower rating, 6.16 pounds
per horsepower.
Performance figures are given as fol-
lows: Maximum speed at ground level,
1872 miles per hour; at $3.50 feet, 1876
miles per hour; at 9,840 feet, 225 miles
per hour, and at 1880 feet, 238 miles
per hour. Cruising speed at 5000
meters, or 1850 feet, is 203 miles per
hour. The landing speed at sea level Is
621a miles per hour. The initial rate of
climb Is given as 1,450 feet per minute,
and the little fighter can climb to $3.50
feet in % minutes, to 9,840 feet In 5.6
minutes and to 1880 feet in 10.7 min
utes. The absolute ceiling Is $4,000
feet.
Short Cruising Range.
With full fuel load the plane can
operate for little more than an hour
and a half at $4,000 feet, travelling at
cruising speed after the climb to that
altitude.
In justice to American pursuit and
fighting planes, 1t must be said that the
British interceptor fighters are Of less
rugged construction and are built purely
for short-range operation, every possible
sacrifice being made to attain speed and
performance. Even SO, the new British
ship outrankS the best American Army
pursuit planes and the Navy fighters by
approximately 40 miles per hour and
outclinbs them by 5000 feet or more.
The Jockey" shows in concrete form
the value to the British Of their partici-
patton in the Schneider trophy races,
from which the United States was
forced to withdraw for lack Of funds
six years ago. The lessons they have
learned in high-speed design and con-
struction during the past half decade
are reflected In many Of their fighting
planes. The British government now
owns the Schneider Trophy outright, as
a result of three consecutive victories in
the annual classic, and has retired this
premier speed award from competition
for all time.
Air Law Group Formed
Organization of the American Acad-
emy Of Air Law, membership in which
is open to any law school, bar associa-
tion, industrial organization or indiWd-
ual interested In the development of a
comprehensive air law program, has
been announced here.
THE organization of the academy -
1t was announced, lis the first attempt
to unite all those interested in an effort
national and international in scope, to
promote the study and to influence the
sound development of aeronautical and
radio law. Its broad membership, in
Guiding members of law school faculties,
practitioners of law, economists, busi-
ness executives and engineers skilled in
the scientific development of the arts
involved, assures that in considering
and acting with relation to problems in
aviation and radio law, practical effects
will be given due weight"
The School of Law of Catholic Uni
versity of America is one of the first
to take up the work of research to be
carried on by the academy through its
member institutions.
The new academy undertakes, among
its general purposes, to promote a sys-
tematic development of aeronautical
and radio law, ltcal, national and in
ternational to establish and maintain
library Of literature on aeronautical
and radio law; to encourage research
and provide facilities for the study of
aeronautical and radio law, including
instruction In these subjects; to provide
the means for educational and social
intercourse between persons and organ
izations engaged in the study of these
branches of law; to develop sound
and enlightened opinion on the legal
| aspects of aeronautical and radio prob
lens on the part of the public, agencies
volved; to prepare. print and issue pub
lications, periodicals and information
on aeronautical and radio law and to
act as a clearing house for the collec-
ton and dissemination of information
OF this character, and to promote re-
gtonal, national and international con-
| ferences on air law.
Members Are Outstanding.
The membership Of the various COM
mittees Of the academy include some
OF the outstanding figures in world
legal, aeronautical and radio circles.
Among the members OF the Advisory
| Council on Aeronautics are Senator
Hiram Bingham of Connecticut, Rear
Admiral Richard z. Byrd, DR.. Hugo
| Eckener, former Representative Allen
J. Furlow, Paul Henderson, former
Assistant Postmaster General in charge