ON THE WING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 89, 15 April 1913, Page 4

ON THE WING.

SHORT FtXGHT AT AVONDAiE, STONES MACHINE IN READINESS. Both of the big bird machines that have been attracting a deal of attention in Aucklaaid of 'late are stationed in readiness to flap their artificial ivings: and soar to greater. heights just whenever the necessary inclination and skill is displayed by their owners. One is the " Farruan •biplane," which Mr. F. E. Sandford (an enthusiast with experience in Australia) ; is manipulating on the Avondale racecourse, and the other is the monoplane, which Wizard Stone, the well-known American airman, recently brought to - Auckland, and with which he intends to make an exhibition flight at the Domain ' Cricket Ground on Saturday. , The patient preparations of Mr. Sand-, 'ford and ah assisting engineer from the South (Mr. Miller) were rewarded by ;an encouraging glide at Avondale on Sunday afternoon, a:i event which was witnessed by a large gathering of people whose curiosity had led them to the locality on the off-cliance of seeing something unusual. As a matter of fact, the racecourse lias been quite a popular quarter for visitors since the experiments with the aeroplane commenced. Taking his position in the steering seat Mr. Sandford set the powerful engine in. motion, which in turn started the propeiler revolving, and away glided the " with its 30ft. wings filling to the breeze. JtTose to an altitude of about-40ft., and flew a distance of about 300 yards, after which Mr. Sandford 1 glided back to terra firma. He made one or two smaller flights, but did not attempt too much because c-f the lack of suitable' places for alighting. It is understood that something more ambitious will be attempted during the next few days. ■ •■ '::-' ft-Bpj The other instrument, of flight re.-it-s '■■' in a. 30 x -30, tent at the iiprth-we?t-; corner of the-. Domain cricket ground. •Since its adjustment in' Auckland the.".;'■ engines have lrad-a, trial run, the mono- : 7 plane being "anchored" the while, and .'7 everything proved to be in thorough working order. A '•Star" reporter, gained' admission to the tent this morning, when the' complicated "fixings appeared to be thoroughly taut, and tlie engines freely oiled. Mr Stone was not present, but the man who . guards the airship day and night pointed out the • ; interesting features., Tlie wings have a spread of exactly 30 feet, containing 160 square feet of canvas, and the tail stretches back a distance of over 20 feet. The ' steering elevators and rudder are .':.": freely worked by .the wheel and levers near, the steersman's, .seat, and alto- 7 gather the effect" produced is like that of .a huge bird-kite such as the school- '. boys fly'in season. The light walnut pro- -■; peßer'worked by the 50 horse-power engine does for the monoplane what the 7 guiding strinar does for the kite—propels -" it against the breeze. Engine and all, : the machine in. question weighs little, 7 more .than 700 pounds. '.• With a • record of many flights in America and Australia, Mr Stone is likely to secure interesting In view of inquiries which have been made concerning the conditions of admis- ' sion to the cricket ground on Saturday, it may be interesting to state that holders of two shilling tickets have, the 7g right to enter the ground and. make J use of the grandstand, whereas 'holders -!jf oij-one shilling -tickets will "be; : "'adiriitted M\ td" the; ground only". As" alfi'tbe within- the area set apart for cricket 1 and' football will be" required, for ';. the ,f| purposes' of the flight, the -public will '7 not be allowed inside the railing-around 77 the sports enclosuiel The airship will '.7 be got out by removing the front of 7j -the tent, and-the flight will be. essayed " in full view of the speotators. As eio-e * inspection by a crowd of people is not ".■ 'conducive to the safety of such a.machine, it :is probable that the .monoplane will subsequently -be-run -round-the grounds on its pneumatic wheels for casual inspection. .:, 7", . 7 7-' '