Журнал Flight

Flight, March 29, 1917.

THE LAWRENCE AEROPLANE.
AN AMERICAN INHERENTLY STABLE AEROPLANE.

   DURING 1915 and 1916 exhaustive experimental work on a new type of aeroplane was carried out by the Lawrence-Lewis Aeroplane Co. at Tampa Bay, Florida, U.S.A. The results apparently proved highly successful, as work is now proceeding with two new models - A-1 speed type, and B-1 load-carrying type - following the same principles.
   From the accompanying illustrations of the experimental A-1 type, it will be seen that the machine is a totally-enclosed tractor biplane flying boat, although we understand that it can also be converted into a land machine. The main feature consists in the fact that neither ailerons nor wing-warping is required for the lateral control, this being obtained entirely by virtue of the aerodynamic properties of the machine. During the trials, consisting of over 150 flights under varied weather conditions, it was demonstrated that the machine possessed a marked degree of inherent stability, had an exceptionally high gliding angle, and a wide-speed range.
   The simplicity of control was another marked feature. The boat is of the short-hull type, the walls being extended upwards to the top planes, and rearwards to the tail. Windows are formed in the sides from the pilot's seat, at the rear of the planes, to the nose. The main planes are, we believe, slightly arched downwards at the tips. The principal dimensions of models A-1 and B-1 are :-
   A-1: span, 30 ft.; chord 6 ft.; gap, 4 ft. 8 ins.; overall length, 25 ft.; stagger, 6°; weight, 1,750 lbs.; useful load, 800 lbs.
   B-1: span, 42 ft.; chord, 7 ft. 6 ins.; gap, 5 ft. 8 ins.; overall length, 29 ft.; stagger, 6°; weight, 2,200 lbs.; useful load, 1,500 lbs.
   The engine, which in each case is a 140 h.p. Hall-Scott, is mounted on the hull and drives a tractor screw, located high up in front of the bows.


Flight, May 10, 1917.

THE "TOTALLY ENCLOSED" AEROPLANE.

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   During the years 1915 and 1916 experiments were carried out in America with a highly original flying boat of the enclosed type, built by the Lawrence-Lewis Aeroplane Co. of Chicago. This machine, of which no detail information is yet available, has a main float or boat built of wood in the usual way, to which is added a superstructure of stringers and fabric forming a long cabin. The pilot obtains a view of the surrounding country through windows in the side and nose of this cabin, and as the propeller is mounted high up, and the pilot is placed a considerable distance behind the lower plane, he has a fairly free view in practically all directions. The engine is placed down in the nose of the boat and drives the tractor screw through gearing. The biplane wings are remarkable on account of the fact that no system of lateral control, either warp or ailerons, is employed, the wings being apparently shaped to give a certain amount of inherent lateral stability. It has been announced that further particulars of this machine will be published shortly, and in view of the decided originality of the machine these will be awaited with interest.
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