STRANGE STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 15, 19 January 1933, Page 7

STRANGE STORY.

STOLEN IDEAS.

American Airman and Everest

Flight.

ALLEGED USE OF PLANS

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

NEW YORK, January 18. Captain Ashley McKinley, who was Rear-Admiral Byrd's official photographer on his Antarctic expedition, in an interview published in the "New York Times," said he had reason to believe that the British' flight expedition over Mount Everest was based on his plans.

While he was in London seeking permission to make the flight, Said Captain McKinley, he came to an agreement with Major. L. V. Stewart Blacker, a British airman, to fly his expedition's aeroplane. He told Major Blacker his complete plans, including details as to placing a meteorologist to observe the weather conditions at a point near the peak of the mountain and other.technical matters.

On his return to America recently Captain MeKinley learned that the British flight probably wonlcl start dur ; ing February. Major Blacker had informed him he was going with another expedition, which he assumed was the British one. Captain MeKinley indicated that he would abandon his expedition, as it would be impossible to be the first there. PADDLE AEROPLANE. German Invents Propellerless Machine. WONDERS EXPECTED. (Received 9.30 a.m.) BERLIN", January 18. Herr Adolf Rohrbach, of the Rohrbach Aeroplane Company, has designed a propellerless aeroplane which he claims will revolutionise aeronautics. The inventor says his machine will rise and descend perpendicularly, stand still in mid-air and tlidn turn in any direction. The machine will be propelled by the rotation of its own wings, each consisting of three paddles like those of a paddle steamer.