Houston Everest Flight Articles
Chronology Of The Everest Flights
The Westland Wallace
The Houston Westland Aircraft
Everest Bristol Pegasus S.3
The Everest Flight Cameras
Pre Expedition Proving Tests
Departing For Everest
Members Of The Expedition
Everest Conquered
The Second Flight
The Everest Year
The Times Luncheon

Pre Expedition Proving Flights

READY TO GO OVER THE TOP: On the left, the Westland "Wallace" G-ACBR making a test flight, piloted by Mr. H. J. Penrose, On the right, Lt, Col. Blacker explains onc of the Williamson pistol cameras to Fit. Lt, McIntyre (Centre) and Sir Ernest Petter (Right).

Last week the Westland "Wallace," the second of the two machines which are to be used for the Houston-Westland Everest Expedition, was successfully tested at Yeovil. Piloted by Mr.H.J.Penrose, and with Lt. Col. L.V.S. Blacker as observer, the machine took off shortly before 11 a.m. on February 3. and was soon lost in low clouds. For several hours nothing more was seen or heard of the "Wallace," until later in the afternoon. a message came through from Hamble stating that it had descended there.

It was stated that the "Wallace" had reached an altitude of 37.500 ft.: (uncorrected) during the flight, which extended over Kent, thence along the coast line to Hamble. The lowest temperature was -50 deg.C.and the machine was covered with frost when descending.

When the machine had reached 30,000 ft the oxygen tube attached to Mr. Penrose's mask became disconnected, and he had to descend again to 5,000 ft to put matters aright. During the ascent, Sir Ernest Petter entertained members of the Expedition and officials of the Westland Aircraft Works at luncheon at Yeovil ; unfortunately, Mr.H. A. Bruce, Managing Director of Westlands, was unable to be present. Sir Ernest Petter proposed success to the Expedition and said his company was proud to have had the opportunity of preparing the machines for this Everest Expedition, and they had every confidence that they would fulfil requirements.

Air Commodore Fellowes in reply, said that there were three factors on which success depended. The first was the gift of the funds by Lady Houston and her arrangements for the organisation of the Expedition, the second was the efficiency of the engine. and the third the efficiency of the aeroplane and its equipment.

He thanked the Westland Aircraft Works and the Bristol Aircraft Company most warmly for the splendid efforts which they had put forth to produce the aircraft in so short a time so that the aeroplanes could be shipped to India on February 11.

The PV3 and the Wallace were duly crated and loaded on s.s. Dalgoma on February 9, and are expected to reach Karachi during the first week in March. Air Commodore Fellowes, Sqd Ldr, Lord Clydesdale and Flt.Lt. Mclntyre the principal members of the Expedition are expected to leave Heston to-day, February 16, in three machines. and fly " in formation" to India, accompanied by Mrs. Fellowes and the Special Correspondent of The Times. Air Commodore Fellowes will fly a "Puss Moth," Lord Clydesdale his " Tiger Moth" and FIt. Lt. Mclntyre the" Fox Moth" belonging to the Expedition.

In conclusion it may be of interest to give the following notes relating to the cameras which have been supplied to the Expedition by the Williamson Mfg. Co., Ltd. "Eagle" Type 3 cameras are used, fitted with special wide-angle Ross lenses of 5 in. focus. The picture size is 5 in. by 5 in: and full records are given with each exposure, of time, altitude, serial number and the usual written data. On account of the extreme cold which, even in the cockpit reaches -40 deg F., it has been found necessary to fit internal heaters and heating blankets. Heaters are fitted inside the camera body and cones. Each film magazine has its individual heater with special plugs and leads. These are thermostatically controlled to maintain an even temperature. Spare magazines are carried in compartments provided with electric connections for the magazine heaters. The importance of avoiding extreme cold in the film magazine will be appreciated when it is understood that celluloid at temperatures of -20 deg. or lower becomes extremely brittle and breaks when bent. India rubber and rubber fabrics such as are used in focal-plane shutters of some cameras suffer the same characteristics, but the all-metal " Louvre " shutter of the" Eagle III " is unaffected by low temperatures. In spite of this heating which consumes 25 amperes per camera, heat dissipation
is so rapid that it is anticipated that some parts of the camera will still be at temperatures approaching 32 deg F., and, owing to the extremely high viscosity of the best of oils at this temperature, it has been found necessary to run the cameras for this flight practically devoid of any lubrication. It has been necessary to pay special attention to fits of bearings etc., especially where metals with dissimilar contraction coefficients are interconnected.The optical system of the complete cameras has been carefully checked by the National Physical Laboratory Teddington.