OVERALL LENGTH

MAXIMUM DIAMETER

FILLER

FILLER WEIGHT

TOTAL WEIGHT

EFFECTIVE ILLUMINATION

COLOR

DESCRIPTION:

The flame float consists of two main parts, a body and a container. The body is a cylindrical casting to one end of which three fins are riveted. A cylindrical strut is rive-ted to the fins. Secured to the fin by a securing wire is a punch to which is attached an instructional tablet, lettered on both sides. Body is thickened at nose end and has a conical nose of thin sheet steel. A protecting cap is fitted over the nose and a safety pin passes through holes in both the cap and nose.

The container consists of a sheet metal cylinder, to one end of which is attached a sheet metal cone. The opposite end of the container is closed by a cap. The cap is apartured and carries on the side facing the tail cone a correspondingly spertured spi-got and a wire gauze socket. Passing axially along the container is a central tube, one end of which is soldered to the narrow end of the tail cone and the other end fitting into the socket. Near the tail end, the tube is closed by a sealing cup, projecting from which is punch sleeve closed by a paper cap. On the side opposite the spigot the cap carries a diaphragm which retains a striker bored to receive the safety pin.

The lower part of the container is filled with granular calcium phosphide, which is held in position by a closing disc. The material surrounds the slotted portion of the cen-tral tube. Beyond the closing disc the annular space between the container and the central tube forms a sealed buoyancy chamber.

FUNCTIONING:

On dropping from an aircraft, impact with the water crushes the nose of the float and causes the striker to penetrate the sealing disc; at the same time the securing wi-res holding the container to the body are broken, and the container and tail cone are forced away from the body. The buoyancy chamber maintains the tail cone uppermost in the water. Water enters the aperture in the cap and passes through the gauze soc-ket and the slots in the central tube onto the calcium phosphide. The phosphine gene-rated on entry of the water passes upwards through the central tube, from which it emerges through the hole pierced by the punch through the sealing cup and, on con-tact with the air, takes fire spontaneously.

REMARKS:

(1) Flame float, No. 4 Mk I: Identical with inner body of Mk II float.

(2) Before the float is dropped, the punch is removed from the strut by cutting the securing wire, and the sealing cap on the punch sleeve is punctured with it. After the sealing cup has been broken from the flame float must be dropped from the aircraft im-mediately, or removed to a safe place for disposal.

FLAME FLOAT, MESSAGE CARRYING, Mk I:

DESCRIPTION:

This float is almost identical to the Flame Float, Navigation Mk II in dimensions and construction. The essential difference is that a message container is suspended in the buoyancy chamber by a fixing wire secured to a plug which is screwed into a bush in the tail cone. The plug is provided with a handle to facilitate its removal from the bush, and a washer on the plug insures a water-tight joint. An arrow and the words "MESSAGE HERE" are painted on the tail cone to direct attention to the message.

FUNCTIONING:

On impact with the water the nose is crushed, causing the striker to penetrate the sealing disc; at the same time the securing wires holding the container for the filling to the body are broken, and the container and tail cone are forced away from the body. The buoyancy chamber maintains the tail uppermost in the water, which enters the holes in the cap and passes through the slots in the central tube and gauze socket into the calcium phosphide. The phosphine generated on entry of the water passes through the central tube, from which it emerges through the hole pierced by the punch through the sealing cup and, on contact with the air, takes fire spontaneously.

OBTAINING MESSAGE:

When the float is reached, it is to be held submerged while the plug is unscrewed and removed complete with the message container. After removal of the plug, the float will sink as a result of water entering the buoyancy chamber through the hole from which the plug has been removed.