NEW 'PLANES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 122, 25 May 1935, Page 23

NEW 'PLANES.

BOMBING MACHIINES.

MODERN AIRCRAFT.

ASSEMBLY AT HOBSONVIIAU.

Tho Hobsouville aerodrome presented a, scene of general activity yesterday, when the task of assembling the four Vickcrs "Vildebeest" bombing 'planes vns begun. The 'planes only recently arrived from England, and the work has been held up pending the. arrival of two experts from the Old Country. As soon as one is completed it is intended to have an official test of the machine, and it is expected, that this will take place on June 1. Each 'plane is of a single-engined type, and is termed a torpedo-carrying and bombing 'plane. It has a span of 49 feet, and is 30 feet (i inches in length. The fuselage is a rectangular structure, of metal'construction, mainly of dxiralimun, and is covered with fabric. Tho undercarriage is a divided type. Each unit consists of a Vickers oleo compression le", tho top end of which is attached to the outer end of the bottom-centre epar. Tho apex of the. V is hkged td the underside of the fuselage by an iu.'.:... I axle. Wheel brakes are also fitted, lr required a twin all-metal float chassis may be substituted for the wheel undercarriage. The 'piano has provision for a pilot's cockpit, and an observer-gunner in the aft of the wing. Armaments consist of one Vjckers gun, tiring through the airscrew, while a Lewis gun is affixed on a ring over the back cockpit. A torpedo bomb rack is fitted under the fuselage between two units of the undercarriage.

The "Vildebcest" aeroplane is now universally adopted in the English Royal Air Force, and two squadrons arc at present stationed in both Singapore and Iraq. It is primarily ueed as a- torpedo bomber. This type of machine has been in general use in England for tho last two years, .and it embodies many nioro new features than tKose used in the East. Tho 'piano is unique, in as much as it is and has an all up flying weight of SOOOlbs. It is fitted with°hydraulic wheel brakes.that give excellent manoeuvring ability when taxi-ing. Tho erection and maintenance of tho°'plano are very simple, and no expensive equipment is required. Another feature of tho "Vildebeesf is its automatic boost control, which allows tho boost to be increased throughout the flight, plus ljlb per square inch for both tho take off and incline.

It has a very easy method of starting hv reason of an inertia starter, one man beinc in complete control under the moet difficult conditions. Tests have been carried out in England, such as leaving the engine out in the frost all night, and placed in a refrigerator for many hours, and even then successful starts have been made.

Tho work at Hobsonville has been in the hands of Mr. H. S. Beedle and Mr. \V. S. K. Walker, experts attached to the firms of Vickers and Co. and the Bristol Aeroplane Co., respectively. Mr. Beedle stated that dealing with orders placed with hia firm, Australia has ordered a number of Seagull amphibians from tho supcrmarino branch in England, and these were under course- of construction. Mr. Beedle has just returned irorn an inspection of the aero bases in Singapore, India, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt. He stated that there were a number of "Vildebecet* planes to bo assembled in Christehurch before lie could return, and ho expected to leave for tho South in about a. month's time. The 'plane at Hobsonville is fitted with a Pegasus engine, an engine that is in uso all the world over in aeroplanes. A test carried out recently by tho.Air Ministry in England over 100 flying hours, resulted in the engine developing !>2O horse-power, which is over 100 h.p. per cylinder in a machine like the "Vildebeest, which has nine cylinders.