The Bleriot Cross Channel Flyer

Bleriot Memorial Aerial View	Snapshots In Time Index
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Details Of The Bleriot Cross Channel Flyer. (Flight March 5th 1910) We have.prepared the accompanying sketches primarily in order to answer certain points raised by a correspondent, F. `V. Bramley, whose letter appears this week. There has been so much correspondence about this machine, however, that the following remarks relating to the details in question will doubtless have a wider interest. We have consequently thought proper to deal with them in this form. One of the two sketches shown herewith represents the wheel at the rear of the chassis. The diameter of this wheel has not previously been given ; it measures 20 ins. An interesting minor detail to which attention may be drawn in connection with the arrangement of this wheel is the use of a piece of elastic anchoring the wheel bracket to the chassis frame.	The fork that carries the wheel is pivoted to a vertical post that is trussed substantially to the chassis frame. In addition to this pivotal motion the forks are also hinged and mounted in such a way that they afford a spring suspension. The spring is situated at the top of the vertical post in the position illustrated by the sketch. The object of the elastic is, of course, to keep the wheel in line ready for landing, but at the same time it does not interfere with the free swivelling of the wheel when the machine is running along the ground. The other sketch shows in very complete detail the construction and arrangement of the tail on the Bleriot cross-Channel flyer. It affords answers to all the questions raised by our correspondent. The tail is supported on a steel tube, A, by aluminium brackets, C, clamped to the main spars of the frame. The steel tube forming the main transverse member of the tail is trussed by a flat strip steel tie-bar, B, that extends from the top of the main frame to the junction of the tail with the elevating tips. Further support for the tail is afforded by the diagonal struts, E, made of light steel tubes that pass from the trailing edge of the tail plane to vertical uprights in the main frame of the chassis. This latter attachment is so arranged as to afford an adjustment whereby the angle of incidence of the tail can be varied. The small perforated bracket, F, is similarly made adjustable for the same purpose. The operation of the elevating tips, which are movable at either extremity of the central tail plane, is effected by means of the main transverse tubular spar, A. The elevating tips are fixed to this spar, as also is the central lever, B, that is connected by wires to the operating lever under the pilot's control. The main spar, A, can, of course, rock in its bracket. The central portion of the tail plane is not movable in flight, but can be adjusted as already described.