Air Stories — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FLIGHT OF A PRESIDENT At first he was too indignant at their rough treatment and too dazed to take stock of his whereabouts. But gradually his eyes fixed themselves on a building that loomed before him in the moonlight. Its outlines seemed familiar ; they bore a definite resemblance to those of his own palace ! Then a sharp voice bade his escort halt, and the President found himself staring at the aquiline features of Quesada, smiling at his obvious bewil- derment. ‘‘ Good evening, or rather, good morn- ing,’’ said Quesada. ‘‘I really didn’t expect you, although José Rodriquez swore you knew enough to be able to SIROAUUNUSHUSODONOUOESORSQODEROUDEDENCHOUGOAGDOESCUOSEEONUUUEUOCODONUEOUAEDENOCOUOUSEOGENEROGODEONOGOESNDSNEGOSOUONSEQOXREOUOUIEOSNGOOSSOUREAOSUDEOOUGUOGQURSUNONAONES SOGSNGRSCUSCIESONOUEE HERE’S THE ANSWER Readers’ Questions are invited and should be addressed to AIR STORIES, Tower House, Southampton Street, London, W.C.2. A stamped, addressed envelope must accompany ALL enquiries and no letter should contain more than three separate questions manage the aeroplane. Permit me to congratulate you on the feat. ... Oh, and, by the way, I expect you would like to see a priest before we get on with the next part of the proceedings.’’ As the soldiers led the ex-President away, it dawned on him that Rodriquez must have turned the Dragonfly back in the direction of Botogonia before he jumped off. Also, that, knowing the presidential aerodrome was the only possible janding-ground between the capital and the frontier, he had given the machine just enough petrol to bring her over her own aerodrome. In short, the revenge planned by José Rodriquez had been foolproof. & QEDLTLOUADLESASOUUSEEUGENAN EE: Sai MEQUUSUNQQUCUSUUODUAODOGOUVANDCAUUQQUUOSUNQUUNQNPSOUCQUUOSHU000000U00UG00SN000009H0000090000005000QU00Q9000000NU0GU0009UQ00C00N00QEQ0NN09NN0NE9QQU0Q0000A05090009000N0090000200000 008003 BRITISH AIR STRENGTH Dublin, I.F.S.). (1) Strength of British air service personnel in August, 1914, comprised 2,073 officers and men, representing 146 officers and 1,097 other ranks of the R.F.C., and 130 officers and 700 other ranks of the R.N.A.S. At the end of the War, in November, 1918, our total air strength had risen to 291,175, made up of 27,333 officers, 16,681 cadets and N.C.O.’s under instruc- tion, and 247,161 N.C.O.’s and men. (2) The present R.A.F. expansion scheme aims at a total personnel strength of approximately 70,000 officers and men, excluding reserves. AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT (R. Easson, Dunbar, Scotland). (1) The land-type Lewis gun used during the War was water-cooled. For aircraft use, the water-jacketing was removed and the gun converted to air-cooling. Vickers aeroplane machine-guns are of the air-cooled type. (2) The Constantinesco oil-pressure interruptor gear for machine-guns was first successfully demonstrated on a B.E.2c in August, 1916. McKEEVER’S ’PLANE (H. Heap, Sheffield, 9). Sorry, but we have no reliable record of the colour scheme of Major McKeever’s service aircraft. We have heard of an all-white Bristol with yellow struts and red wheel discs which was supposed to have been flown by him, but have been unable to confirm this. Perhaps one of our readers may be able to help P THE FANTOME (V. R. Taylor, Bristol, 6). (1) The latest version of the Fairey Fantéme single-seater fighter biplane is the Fairey Feroce, a five-gun fighter with a top speed of 270 m.p.h. It is a product of the Belgian branch of the Fairey Company. (2) No, the Fantéme was never adopted (D. McGuire, 31 by the R.A.F.; it was specifically designed to meet Belgian Air Force requirements. VEGA GULL (N. Oliver, Dublin, I.F.S.). The two front seats of the Percival Vega Gull have full dual control, with separate joy-sticks and parallel motion rudder-bars. Engine throttle and wheel brake lever are in the centre, between the two seats, and the lever controlling the wing flaps is on the port side. Control cables and rods are carried in a box along the cabin floor. Chief dimensions are 39 ft. 6 in. span, 25 ft. 4 in. length and 7 ft. 44 a height. Best wishes for the success of your model. OBSERVER CORPS (E. R. Dredge, Guernsey). (1) Where have you been all these years ? Most definitely Handley Page’s is not an American con- cern, but one of the earliest and most famous firms in the British aircraft industry. It is at present busy supplying the R.A.F. with Heyford and Hampden bombers. (2) The Observer Corps is a volunteer organisation of ‘‘ watchers ’’ which, in time of war, would co-operate with the air defence authorities in giving warning of the approach to these shores of hostile aircraft. Their equipment includes sensitive sound detectors and devices for calculating the approximate course and position of aircraft. The Corps is administered by the Fighter Command, R.A.F., Stanmore Manor, Hertfordshire. BACK NUMBERS (R. Downes, 153 Mountview Road, Stroud Green, London, N.4). Sorry, but we are right out of stock of copies of the July, August and November issues of 1935 and of the October, 1936, issue. Perhaps a reader may have one or more of these for sale or exchange and will write to you direct. (More Replies to Readers on page 72.) Co OO (C (©