Hey guys,

I have been having a play on Airliners.net.

Heaps of lovely photos of our topic subject there...

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Royal-Aircraft-Factory/1315699/L/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Royal-Aircraft-Factory/0902446/L/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Royal-Aircraft-Factory/0902445/L/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Royal-Aircraft-Factory/0902444/L/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Bristol-F2b-Fighter/0878094/L/

These are all of the Aircraft in the SHuttleworth Collection.

Can anybody tell me why there would be so many patches on the underside of the Wing?

Cheers,

Hugh

OK Hugh, Question for you. Is that SE5a in the Shuttleworth collection full size or is it scaled smaller? They just look small to me. Maybe the pilots just didn't eat as much back "in the day".

Regards
Steve

As far as I know the Shuttleworth aircraft is full size, they also have a F2B in the same room and they don't look out of place. I have pics of the Shuttleworth SE5a taken last year, will post tromorrow if possible

Pics as promised, only 3 but one is a close up of the engine



Hope they are useful

Hey Mike,
The Shuttleworth machine is a restored original.
I seem to remember an article about the discovery of this particular example.

Apparently (and this is if I have the right machine), this was discovered hidden away in the back rooms of the RAF Apprentice training establishment at Henley... Others may know more.

Cheers,

Hugh

Now here is a question for you. Why are the elevator cable inspection ports on the underside of this example?

Hey Stephen,

Find me an example of a machine that has them on the upper side only. Not baiting, just have a theory developing.

I'm still intrigued about those square panels with the round bits all over the undersides of the main planes.

Cheers,

Hugh

Why would they be on both sides? No light showing through on this one says they were on under surfaces only.

Agreed,
I will have to rifle through my references.
Watch this space.

Any thoughts on thos patches?

Cheers,

Hugh

The round ports are probably the same condensation / breather traps we have on several of our modern replica aircraft. It tends to keep condensation from forming inside the wing cellule between the fabric coverings. These increase the longevity of the wings. They simply dope fabric over the ports to keep the general colour and texture of the wing appearance.

Got another SE5a question for the experts.

I've been looking at the pilots seat and references are a bit lacking. The seats that I see in references are from restorations or new build SE5s. They look a little too "Comfortable" for WWI standards.

Here are just a few examples:





As I look at the basic build of the seat I see one horizontal slab with a backboard. I'm guessing it was up to the pilot to bring his own cushion. Were they wearing chutes by then? I can see where a "chair could be afixed to that seatboard.

Without better references my plan is to do the horizontal seat board with backboard and place a cushion on the seat and one "nailed' to the backboard.

Regards
Steve

Hi Steve,

I would say that the second shot is closer the the original. The cushion shown is just sitting there anyway.

I have seen shots of the Plank seat with a folded blanket for cushioning! I always wondered how they managed to sit in one place while throwing the machine around in a dog fight... surely they must have slid around everywhere!

Cheers,

Hugh

Hey Hugh,

At some point I hope that they at least had a rope to tie themselves in. Nothing like feeling "Loose" in the cockpit. Been there done that. I've also seen pilots carry thier own cushion with them.

Maybe I'll get a few photos with this request.

Regards
Steve