HOUR'S FLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 205, 30 August 1934, Page 8

HOUR'S FLIGHT.

HOME-MADE 'PLANE. RANGIRIRI TO AUCKLAND. MR. E. EVER SON'S VENTURE. In a trim little home-made monoplane, Mr. Ernest Evcrson, of Auckland, flew from Rangiriri to Hobsonville air base this morning after circling over Mangere aerodrome and the city to give hint an hour's flight.

The flight was made with the special permission of Squadron-Leader T. M. Wilkes, Director of Air Services, and the machine is now housed, at Hobsonville awaiting a certificate of airworthiness. Officials at the air base praise Mr. Everson's achievement in building a machine which performed so creditably.

| After a beautiful take-off, Mr. Ernest Everson left Rangiriri at five minutes to eight this morning. Cruising at 70 miles an hour, the 'plane moved more than satisfactorily at an altitude of nearly 3000 ft. It circled over Mangere aerodrome and then went on to Hobsonville. When tlie air base was reached, Mr. Everson had not been in the air an hour. He "rolled" and "banked" and played about until the hour had elapsed. Then he made a perfect landing.

"She behaved very nicely all the way,' 1 said Mr. Everson, "I had no trouble. The engine functioned perfectly."

Powered with a 40 liorso-power Bristo". Cherub engine, the 'plane, with her present tanks, has a range of 400 miles, but with the tanks that are available she could fly close on 2000 miles. Her average cruising speed is claimed to be 00 miles an hour, with a maximum speed of about 110 miles an hour. At the moment the craft is a single-seater. It cost well over £500 to build.

"Vinco" is the name which will shortly be painted on the home-made monoplane. It means, appropriately for the Eversons, "I conquer."

Years of planning and months of labour brought "the 'plane into existence. The Everson brothers, Ernest, aged 25, and Arthur, aged 23, with their partner, Mr. Ivan Waugh, worked long, but happy hours to complete the job. Weeks ago they had a trial flight. It was a great success. But with to-day's flight they are triumphant, and full of optimism. They have great faith in the two 40 liorse-powcr motors which, they claim, will ensure safer crosscountry flights.

The dashboard of the home-made 'plane is fitted with standard instruments. An air-speed indicator with positive and negative tubes is built into the nose of the monoplane. She is a trim little machine.