siznaudin

No doubt about it - be it planes or cars, the northern hemisphere is the place to be...

One of two flying single blade J-2 cubsThis is super interesting andtotally bizarre, so I did a little research. The idea is that a single blade would be more efficient than multiple blades because the single blade is always travelling through undisturbed air. The propeller is counterweighted and mounted eccentrically on the hub to keep it balanced. It also has fore-aft pivot so the prop pitch self-adjusts to the most efficient angle - you can move the tip of the blade forward and back several inches with your hand.

 

Apparently the design worked; in 1939 the Everel prop was tested on a Taylorcraft in a race and won by quite a bit. However, shortly after the introduction of the prop, powerful 50HP engines were developed which rendered the efficiency gains of the single blade moot. Considering that the balance of the prop was very fickle in changing weather, the already mechanical complex prop just wasn't worth the effort, so the design never caught on.

 

It's a nifty bit of engineering and a cool piece of history.

It's almost Python-esque to watch, but of course, deadly serious stuff.

Small article in today's Toowoomba Chronicle - not much in the way of new news, just a bit about the documentary and search plans. According to the pozible website for public donations, about $800 of a $130,000 target has been reached with 23 days to go.http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/spitfire-search-returns-to-oakey/2043515/

 

Cheers, Willie.

Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof Toof ... :)

REAL aeroplanes have two wings and round engines ... big round engines ![ATTACH=full]1944[/ATTACH]

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Brigitte Bardot was one who used to tick all my boxes - but at this stage in life, nostalgia has taken over... :rolleyes:

Spotted this display item at the Mooroopna museum.

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Frank Williams is a legend: in 1995 Christine & I attended the AAAA fly in at Cowra: got chatting to the Luskintyre mob, & were invited to "drop in" as we were headed towards Sydney.

We got a flight with Frank in one of the Tigers - loops, barrel rolls ... the lot. What a wonderful group of aviation enthusiasts.

The place and the people have a very very special spot in our hearts. [ATTACH=full]1940[/ATTACH]

I'll second/third the welcome Martin - & should you make it to our "Wide Brown Land " we guarantee the weather & topography will be more "flying friendly" ;)!

Bloody Hell, doesn't that Bentley rotary sound really GREAT!

FANTASIC ! Make sure to follow up with the other clips!

Thirsty? Don't stress - I'm having that drink for you, Kaye ... great to hear it went well for you.

We're just about to hitch up the trailer and head off.

Cheers from Geoff & Chris

One of the Antique Aeroplane Association guys used to have a Mini-moke. Bright yellow, rondels either side.

Used it to travel to the various fly-ins ... dubbed "The Tiger Moth Simulator". Brilliant.

All the best with the surgery then. I'll be sleeping in the swag under the wing, going to the pub for dinner, a cafe for breakfast and enjoying the (hopeful) sunshine... The offer is also there if anyone wants to jump in along the way between Kyneton and Narromine. Happy to stop along the way at Shepparton, Narrandera, Griffith or somewhere between here and there...Cheers

 

Kieran

If the vehicle (I use the term "vehicle" loosely) here is running (god willing...), flag us down and enjoy the experience of a lifetime at a heady 25km/hr. No seat belts, no helmets. Oh the thrill of it all....:rolleyes:

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I wish, Kieran! I will be in Wangaratta hospital - 2 days until surgery. Have fun all who are going, and have a drink for me!

All the best... X X from Geoff & Chris

Sorry, but I'm not sure I understand: what is this thing called "first class" ... ?

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Great stuff! Love the idea of the flight with 7 year old Raymond Bange (45lb) as passenger (in dad's lap?)

And I see that the Bange involvement at Clifton continues to this day: fantastic! ... Zoeglings forever! [ATTACH=full]1932[/ATTACH]

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You can't help but appreciate the caption for one of the images ... "fear the wurst"

Agreed: gorgeous ...and one has to appreciate the external simplicity of a sleeve valve engine, achieved via a certain amount of internal complexity...;)

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I'll chuck my non-aviator's two bob's worth in here, and say that last year when we stayed at the camping/caravan park at the airport when on our way to/from a car rally at Ipswich, we were VERY impressed with the set-up: absolutely superb, plus the excellent av museum there as well... absolutely fantastic.

Jeez Kaye, you must really be browned off - ah well, all in a good cause, and all the best to you. Plenty more fly-ins, eh?

Excellent mathematics - thanks Peter.

And for movies? I seem to recall that 16mm stuff was shot at 24 frames/second, so some of the Vietnam chopper filming still shows some strobe effect?

Maybe we can apply the above mathematics to a 2-blade or 3-blade chopper..? It makes my head tired thinking about it:confused:

Thanks for that .. chain well & truly pulled - but in a still digital image is it possible to produce a blurred prop? I've never been able to get one.

Maybe have to use a really slow "film" speed &/or a neutral filter ...? Appreciate further comments on this topic.

I remember a cook we had on one of the crews many years ago, he couldn't pronounce his T's.Instead of 'got it', he'd say 'gorrit' etc.. Not sure where he was from, maybe a Cumbrian or Geordie or something.

At least we don't have a real big variation of accents here, only the dance/chance/castle type thing. And proper Queenslanders have a port and not a suitcase, but that's more vocabulary than accent.

 

Cheers, Willie.

Here there is the upward inflecion at end of sentences (eastern states) - and the "eh", usually downward inflection, which I tend to associate with northern Qld.

peanut butter cf peanut paste ... a sandwich of "four points" ... "fritz" cf "devon" ... all very interesting. Good point re the vocabulary cf accent - absolutely valid.

It's interesting to compare our Head of State's speech change since the time of her (sorry, Her) coronation to the current day. Significantly less "posh" now.

It was interesting to listen to the various Pommie radio cricket commentators make (live to air and in his absence) reference to "Sir Geoffrey" - in no case was it particularly complimentary. He is, as I once referred to Murray Walker, of Formula One fame ("... unless I'm very much mistaken...") - a PITE ... a Pain In The Earse.

Keeping it in print would probably be the best thing then ...

Yours Colonially,

Geoff.