Holt Flares on Biplanes

‘sOK. Have the drawing and made my own for ‘ATN

P&P..Glad you got that sorted….I may have a photo showing that with cowls removed-I will have a ferret around.

Stan, I had a Tiger Moth flare switch adaptor plate complete with DHA part number but swapped it many moons ago…..oops

W P , I have been a bit distracted and have not yet cut metal, Im hoping in the next couple of months.But when I do,
I will post pictures.

Regards Mike

Any chance of a pic of your panel please Mike? I would love to see it…

[QUOTE=powerandpassion;2037772]

Mike, if you have been staring at Demon panel pics for a long time have you figured where the hand starting magneto was situated ?

Answering my own question, finally confirmed that Hawker Demon had a hand starting magneto on the port side of the engine linked by chain to the engine crank handle operated by ground staff. Chief sat in pilot’s seat and flicked hand starting magneto switch on while two ground bunnies stood on wheel as per photo (State Library Victoria), inserted crank handles and turned the engine over. Even though a Huck’s starter clutch was fitted on the prop boss I have never seen photos of a Hucks starter used for RAAF Demons.

From this experience of cranking Hawker Demon engines the famous Aussie roast spit BBQ tradition evolved. A true delicacy is the famous kangaroo spit roast with tender joey in the pouch.

I like the cotton wool eye-shade he’s made for himself!;)

Anne

Also used as a standard fit on night flying equiped Tiger Moths

[QUOTE=powerandpassion;1961275]Mike, if you have been staring at Demon panel pics for a long time have you figured where the hand starting magneto was situated ?

Answering my own question, finally confirmed that Hawker Demon had a hand starting magneto on the port side of the engine linked by chain to the engine crank handle operated by ground staff. Chief sat in pilot’s seat and flicked hand starting magneto switch on while two ground bunnies stood on wheel as per photo (State Library Victoria), inserted crank handles and turned the engine over. Even though a Huck’s starter clutch was fitted on the prop boss I have never seen photos of a Hucks starter used for RAAF Demons.

From this experience of cranking Hawker Demon engines the famous Aussie roast spit BBQ tradition evolved. A true delicacy is the famous kangaroo spit roast with tender joey in the pouch.

Fascinating, it was certainly a rather crude fix,with its exposed wires,rubber
bungees and the Magnesium mix for the flare.
Was it still made by Holt in civilian form?
I have also discovered a patent from America for a flare,in the the name of
H.E.S.Holt…. Remarkable.

Such flares were common on civil types as well during the pre-war period.
When a friend restored his late 20s civil type, he included dummy flare tubes.
I search and found an appropriate manufacturer logo for them.

These landing flares were also known to ignite spontaneously…with predictable results.
If you read the fates of many aircraft of the 20s-30s…you see entries of “destroyed in hangar fire”.
Often, the fires were caused by flares.

Pat1968 I think you are correct,as the Demon has that very switch in
the bottom right corner,and all (that would be 2) pictures I have do not
show a handle that matches the type in the center right position on the
Bulldog.
Regards Mike

powerandpassion i am not sure about the demon but the Hind has a starter mag mounted on the right hand side of the engine mount that is gear and chain driven. It is switched on from the the cockpit by a narrow 5c/547 switch situated on the lower right hand side of the control panel. The Aussy Demons might be different?

Short distance PM sent.

Mike, if you have been staring at Demon panel pics for a long time have you figured where the hand starting magneto was situated ? I understand Oz Demons had BTH magnetos with a BTH AS 1 or AS 3 hand starting magneto. I have seen Bristol Bulldog cockpit pics with the handle of the starting magneto coming out amongst the gauges but never any Hind/Hart/Demon clue. I’m in Melbourne, happy to catch up to talk Demon. Ed

Thank you…PM sent..
Cheers Mike

I have a copy of the original diagram for the WW1 version if of use, I can scan it in

Wonderful.. PM sent..

Mike
I have what you are looking for, PM me if you want images of the rest of the apparatus used with the flares.

The flares are given the following description:

HOLT FLARES.

These flares are used for illuminating the ground when landing at night. They are made by the Yorkshire Steel Co., Ltd., 30 Holborn, London, E. C.
The illuminating material is contained in a cartridge 4 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. Special hinger brackets shown in Plate 2, are provided, and are mounted on the under side of each lower wing. An elastic cord, which may be attached to a hook in front of the mounting of the bracket, serves to keep the bracket vertical when in use. When not in use, the cord is released and the free end of the bracket is tied back beneath the wing.

Each cartridge has two wires which are attached to binding posts on the bracket. Cables connect these binding posts to push buttons, two dry cells and a spark coil all mounted in the cockpit. A cartridge is ignited electrically when its respective button is pressed.