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The Second Mitchell Memorial Lecture: Some Problems and Prospects in Civil Air Transport

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

Peter G. Masefield
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Extract

Reginald J. Mitchell of Supermarines—a North Staffordshireman, like myself, and, in the words of Joe Smith, “ a practical engineer possessed of an abundance of plain, straightforward common sense; a man of drive and genius”—will go down to history as among the most inspired of those who had the good fortune to live and work in Aviation's pioneering days. During the short span of his active designing and engineering life—for the 16 years between 1920 and 1936—he produced 24 different aircraft types, so brilliantly and affectionately discussed by the great Joe Smith in his foundation Mitchell Memorial Lecture in January 1954. Mitchell's aircraft included, in the civil transport field, the “ Sea Eagle ” of 1923, which opened air services to the Channel Islands, the unique “Air Yacht” of 1929 and the very advanced 75,000 lb., 174 ft. span, six-engined, 40-passenger commercial flying boat of 1930 (Fig. 1), the contract for which was unfortunately cancelled as an economy measure in January 1932 after work was well advanced.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 59 , Issue 532 , April 1955 , pp. 235 - 248
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1955

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References

Note on page 235 * Given before the Southampton Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society on 24th November 1954.

Note on page 239 * Determined also by “ tumble home ” of fuselage sides and position of floor relative to maximum diameter of fuselage.

Note on page 242 * Annual utilisation is derived from the daily rate by making allowance for maintenance checks, scheduling demands, commercial timings, weather and dead flying.

Note on page 244 * “ Aircraft Costs ” are defined as those influenced only by the characteristics of the type of aeroplane concerned. “ Total Costs ” are “ Aircraft Costs ” plus “ Airline Costs,” the costs influenced by the characteristics of the airline. The ratio of “ Aircraft Costs ” to “ Total Costs ” varies with stage length, the “ Airline Costs” becoming progressively smaller with increased sector length because of the reduction in station costs.