The method of packing the wings for transport consisted in detaching the two outer cellules from the central structure, when the removal of one set of wires enabled the planes to be folded one against the other. It is possibly of interest to record the fact that in the military trials of 1912 this machine was taken down and re-erected in 51 minutes, quite a good performance taking into account its large dimensions. Although this attribute is scarcely necessary at the present time, it will be undoubtedly required by the sporting owner of the future with limited storage facilities. The fitting shown
Fig. 49.—Interplane strut attachment.
by [Fig. 49] is only suitable for machines with light wing loading. The plate forming the anchorage for the wires is pressed out, the lugs bent to the different angles, and then attached to the spar by an eyebolt, to which is fixed the plane strut, the ends of the latter being capped with steel tube of streamline section. A similar arrangement is that shown by
Fig. 50.—Interplane strut attachment.
[Fig. 50], the lug plate being pressed out and bent, but in this example the strut terminates in a socket of oval steel tube welded to the plate. It is connected to the spar by a bolt passing through the centre of the socket, the strut end fitting over this.
Fig. 51.—Interplane strut attachment.
The practice of anchoring wires to eyebolts, as in [Fig. 51], forms the nucleus of many strut connections, but as a method cannot be recommended. Continual strain on the wire has a resultant in the bending over of the head of the eyebolt as in [Fig. 52]. As a point of fact the use of the eyebolt is distinctly elementary, and gives the impression of a makeshift. The fitting illustrated by [Fig. 53] constitutes an advance on the previous arrangements dealt with, and is also indicative of modern practice.