MAYO COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 13

MAYO COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT

NEW ZEALANDER PILOTS UPPER MACHINE AIRMEN SATISFIED WITH PERFORMANCE (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) (Received February 24, 7.20 p.m.) RUGBY, February 23. The Mayo composite aircraft made a successful official demonstration flight at Rochester, when the upper component separated and climbed easily away from the carrier flying-boat at 700 feet. The New Zealander, Flying Officer H. L. Piper, piloted the smaller aeroplane, the Mercury. Captain J. L. Parker, who flew the mother craft, the Maia, said: “When we parted all I felt was a sudden lurch downwards. It was quite easy. I am sure we will do it safely in any flying conditions. There was no danger of the machines fouling. There was a minimum stress in parting of 50001b, one aeroplane straining upwards and the other downwards. “At the moment of release they just leapt apart. Flying Officer Piper has no control of his machine while it is locked, but as soon as they part he finds himself flying upwards with the control? easy and everything set to perfection.” Flying Officer Piper said that it was a perfect take-off. The machines made their first separation in mid-air on February 7. It was a successful flight, the itwo components parting while travelling at about 140 miles an hour.