"SAFETY" AEROPLANES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1918, Page 15

"SAFETY" AEROPLANES.

PILOTS 20-MII.E (JUDK WITH KNGINES OFF. Many people slill think of the aeroplane as being a highly dangerous contrivance. ' says the "Daily Chronicle.'' Ordinarily ] well-informed people still think that if Its ] engine stops, or liny other mishap occurs. ' an aeroplane must drop like a stone to the j earth and smash itself and its pilot Into atoms. Both impressions are quite erroneous. Even before the war the liuvernmeut was | building aeroplanes which were "stable." |. A test, which has actually been carried I out shows Ikiw stable those aeroplanes j were. A pilot climbed to a sufficient height, and then stopped his engine and took hands off the controls, merely keeping his feel on the rudder bar. lie steered for an aerodrome "JO miles away, and except for keeping her straight he let tho aomplanc do nliat she liked. She travelled the | whole 3) miles as steadily as a blcyvle coasting down a long, straight and gentle bill. Of course, the pilot had to take hold of the control xlick to land the machine in the aerodrome, but except for that, and the steering, the aeroplane made the whole i journey by herself. . , j