Seafuryfan,

A good point of research on the subject is the use of “monocoque” and “semi-monocoque” structures in construction.

I cant think off the top of my head an example of a pure monocoque machine but is just the skin and bulkheads only – no stringers or longerons.

A handful of wood and a couple of metal machines if memory serves use this.

Some reading here:

AC 65-15A, Download chapter one

– Hamtech.

PS: dhfan – Today I was handed a gorgeous, genuine Gipsy Major Maintenance and Overhaul manual sadly from a now departed former Engineer.

With regard to the wreckage – there is a chance that it may be culturally acceptable for the Italians to display it in that way?

– Hamtech.

From “The Merlin in Perspective – The Combat Years” By Alec Harvey-Bailey (Roll Royce Heritage Trust):

The author indicates the differences were the supercharger drives (RR – Farman, Packard – epicyclic gearing), magnetos and carburettors.

On the supercharger drive, a couple of the old timers at work relate the story that RR did not give details to Packard regarding the (superior) Farman drive as the US would not share its fuel injection technology. Anyone else heard that one?

Finally the Smithsonian magazine ran an article last year about the men who rebuild these engines in the US, predominately for air racing. They all indicate the a Packard crank and block with the rest being RR is the best combination. Unfortunately they interviewed a nutter in the article who stated that the reason the RR Merlins had more parts was that the British were Socialists!

– Hamtech.

PS: See below, the props are just pushed in and therefore easily lost.

While I suspect this magazine is aimed at a north American audience so this wont really matter, I’m not so enthusiastic looking at the preview issue:

1. Editorial page “From enthusiast to pilot” comment. For warbirds more than any other form of aviation the single most important people are the ones that take the aircraft from a twisted lump of metal to a serviceable flying machine. Almost always these people appear in the background or not at all. Genuine question here – do glossy photo’s and pilot reports sell magazines?

2. First Issue – Summer 2004. How hard is it to have the month listed for the rest of the planet’s readers?

3. “Fresco” article. Fresco is a NATO code name used to identify aircraft they considered hostile. This is not the designation of the aircraft. A tip – if you are ever talking aviation with Russians don’t use NATO code names.

I will say honestly, “Aeroplane” and “Flypast” are the only two I have found that think globally in their presentation across the board. Great to read articles from a variety of countries, not just a bombardment of the north American scene with a report from Duxford to satisfy the UK audience.

Should be stop drilled????

They were originally, but the crack propagated beyond the hole.

– Hamtech.

My good lady has just returned from ‘shoppin’ with a new magazine from WH Smiths…

If I might add – god bless the women in our lives when they think of us like that!