Notebook of James Stuart Leslie Ross - Part 10

General Flying  25.7.17
Flying by Map & Compass
Direction (only accounting for Wind).
Actual line of flight allowing
for Variation & Deviation 
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
Direction of wind
Wind      30 MPH
Machine 90  " " 
Ratio      1 to 3.
To turn Geographic to Magnetic add 15^o.
3^o to be subtracted for Deviation
Deviation is angle between Magnetic
& Compass reading.
Readings marked on swinging base
are Magnetic.
Deviation is caused by magnetic
substances in machine's construction
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
MN  TN
Magnetic North
Deviation  Variation.

Bombs.

Lecture I.   14-7-17

Main Bursting Charge (Amatol)

Set off by the exploder or Primer

( T Tetryl or CE). The C.E. is exploded

by an ordinary Falminate of
Mercury detonator.

Hand drawn diagram - see original document

Relay is only used when relay Detonator is

in tail (Relay is connecting link

between Detonator & Exploder).

Relay may be replaced by a Delay

(Slow burning powder) & is used

to delay burst, until after impact.

 

 

Bombs. Lec. 2.   19-7-17.

Fuse, bomb, D.A. No.1. MK.1

(Nose Fuse for 112lb. H.E.R.L. Bomb

Mark 3).

On real release from carrier, the

safety collar is withdrawn, allowing

the vane to rotate, which during 40

feet of fall screws up until the

striker is just off the detonator.

On impact there is a pressure

exerted on the pressure plate which

shears 2 copper pins allowing the

striker to fire the detonator.

This in turn fires a small charge of

C.E. (Composition Explosive) which

blows out the end cap of fuse & fires

the main charge.

Safety Devices

1. Transit Pin
2. Safety Collar
3. Red Safety Setting Line.
4. Copper Shearing Pins.

 

Pistol or Tail Fuse for H.E.R.L. Bomb/

On release from carrier the safety

clip is withdrawn, allowing the vane

to rotate, which during 40ft of fall

screws off allowing the striker & nut to

fall on to a weak spiral spring

which holds it off a detonator.

On impact, the striker & nut are shot

down. compresses the spring & fires the

detonator & after a quarter second delay

the main charge is fired.

Safety Devices.

1. Transit Pin.
2. Weak spring or Creep Spring/
3. Safety Clip

¼ Sec. Delay Fuse for Pistol Tail

(Exterior of fuse painted black).

When detonator is fired, the gasses

are partially checked by means of a 

delay screw. They then fire a delay

composition pellet. These two combined

give a quarter second delay, when

powder pellets are fired which blow

out the end cap of fuse & fire the

main charge.

Precautions. Give vane ¾ of a turn.

Clean spindle with petrol.

(Lec III).      21.7.17

Loading  112lb H.E.R.L. Bomb Mk 3

Tail End 1. Relay or Instantaneous Fuse for

conveying gases from tail end of bomb

down to exploder.

2. Pistol Tail Fuse

3. Pistol Tail.

Nose End

1. H.E. Bomb Long (or Exploder).

2. Nose fuse which is attached to
   bomb by a G.S. nut, the latter

   being introduced to offer resistance

   when impact occurs.

Bomb Long Consists of a cylinder of brass

containing H.E. A detonator is

fixed at each end (one fixed & one

loose). Loose det. enables one to

insert a washer if necessary

 

There is a silk cord at fixed

end for withdrawing the bomb long

(Explosive is Tetryl or Trotyl).

20lb. Cooper Bomb (H.E.)

Description:- Cast steel case 5/16" thick.

The tail is made of wood & carries

4 guiding vanes. Bomb is fixed by a

D.A. nose fuse.

The Action On release from carrier the

propeller is allowed to rotate which

during 15 to 25 feet of fall completes 

25 revs, bringing the striker into line

with detonator & spindle of the propellor.

[*(3 wheels

rotates by prop)*]

On impact the prop is pushed in,

shearing a copper wire & compressing the

spring & forces the striker on to the detonator

which is then fired & in turn fires the

main charge (amatol)

Safety Devices. 

(1) Transit Cover

(2) Socking Wire

(3) Copper shearing pin

(4) Creep Spring

(5) Numerals on Carrier Wheel

Bombs. (Lec 4 Contd.)     21.7.17

To Prepare Bomb.

(1) Unscrew transit cover

(2) Unscrew fuse

(3) Insert detonator in base end

of bomb.

(4) Replace fuse & place bomb in

20 lbs C.F.S. Carrier seeing that

the special copper attachment

engages with prop. which prevents

same from rotating until released.

(5) Before flight cut transit

locking wire.

(6) If bomb is not placed immediately

in C.F.S. carrier, replace transit

cover.

 

Bomb Sights     25.7.17

C.F.S. 4B is composed off three

sights - a movable & fixed foresight

& a fixed back sight forming

a right angled triangle, the use of which

gives you the number of feet to release

bomb before coming to target.

To Use the Sight.

Attain the height from which you

intend to release bomb. Register

this height in feet on your scale

By means of a stop watch, note the time

that any auxiliary object in line

with your target requires to pass

between sights Line A & Line B.

Alter the height on your scale to

this new time registered by the watch.

Fly towards your target in an

up or down wind, maintaining the

same height, speed & direction.

Immediately the target appears at the

end of sight line A, release the

bomb.

Bombs.

Points to be observed before

Bomb Raid.

1. See to Bombsight.
2. Bomb racks working.

3. Draw bomb with full complement xor

   essential parts

4. Fuses in working order.

5. Before starting, withdraw safety pin

    

Bomb Sights (contd.)      25.7.17

To Fix

The sight is fastened to right hand

of fuselage when machine is in

flying position. It may be

moved up or down thro' a groove

in the rear fixing plate or to & fro

along 2 brass rods so as to give

the best position for pilot

Hand drawn diagram - see original document

Bomb Sight C.F.S. 4B.

 

 

Bombs            28.7.17

Carriers       20lbs CFS Bomb Carrier. -

is fastened one under each pl lower

plane by means of steel ribs. Carrier

is locked to ribs by locking pins. It

will carry 4 small type bombs,

but these bombs cannot be dropped

as required, the release being 2, 3, 4, 1.

Before flight, carefully inspect and

adjust the Bowden Cable & when

transferring a carrier from one

plane to another, the cable must

be moved to the opposite side so

that it leads to fuselage.

Safety attachments are provided at

the tail to prevent vanes rotating.

100 lbs CFS. Bomb Carrier.

is fixed to machine similarly to 20lbs

but under fuselage. It carries the

112 lbs H.E.R.L. Mark III which may be

dropped direct action, safety or delay,

but must have wire connections

 

to safety fuses connecting with the

carrier safety hooks.

What precautions to be taken when

loading bombs on carrier?

1. Nose of carrier must be in direction

of flight.

2. Cables to be tested by dropping a

dummy bomb

3. Bomb to be screwed down by

tail support to steady in it in

flight

4. Safety transit pins to be withdrawn

& replaced by suitable safety devices.

Instruments

Lecture 1.

Sunday 15.7.17

Watford Rev. Indicator

Consists of 2 governor weights which

are hinged to a central shaft

by means of a spiral spring

If the shaft be revolved at any

definite rate the weights take up

a position depending upon

centrifugal force pushing them

outwards & the main spring

pressing them inwards. The pointer

is so arranged to the centre shaft

so that the movement of the

governors can be shown over

a scale recording R.P.M. of engine

Connection between indicator and

engine is made by a flexible

cable & the a gear box (on a

stationary engine is fitted to a crank

shaft & on rotary engine fitted to

pump shaft).

 

 

Air Speed Indicator.

Consists of 3 parts :-

(1) Pressure Head.

(2) Indicator

(3) Aluminium Tubing connecting

the two.

Pressure Head is placed on outer struts. This has

an open & a semi-closed tube facing

the direction of flight.

Three types of indicators are used :-

(1) Ogilvie - consists of an india-rubber

diaphragm or membrane,

silk cord & pulleys. Diaphragm is

placed at base of instrument &

pressure from the head is allowed to

compress the diaphragm working

silk cord & pulleys.

2. Clift Indicator :-

Consists of a leather membrane

which is attached in same way as

Ogilvie pattern.

Instruments.

Lecture I         15.7.17

(3) R.A.F. Indicator :-

Consists of 2 metal chambers which

are held to a central shaft. As 

the air pressure ^from the head increases inside the

chambers, it rotates the central

shaft. This movement is then carried to

pointer which records over a scale

M.P.H. air speed.