A WELLINGTON AEROPLANE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 778, 30 March 1910, Page 8

A WELLINGTON AEROPLANE.

A model aeroplane, built by Messrs. Pechugin and Little, is at present on exhibition in Willis Street. The, machine is twenty-nine feet, in length— practically full size—and, in the opinion of the inventors, quite capable of lengthy flights, if only equipped with a proper engine of Hie land used by aeroplanes such as the Bleriot and .the Wright. It has four propellers in ,front, and two underneath for lifting power, besides two flapping wings underneath for raising the machine off the ground. It is at present propelled by a motor-cycle engine of four and- a half horse-power, and. is driven by chain gear. The principal feature of the invention is the inclusion of. a suction tuba, which runs right through the centre of the aeroplane, and contains compressed air. The inventors claim that. should anything happen to the .engine while in flight the machine would not fall directly, as the air in thefcubo would enable the • operators to descend,gradually, and without risk. The.tube is 13ft.' long, with two'fans at each end, which revolve at great speed when the aeroplane is in motion. The inventors Intend giving exhibition flights in Wellington in about three weeks' time with the present engine, and it is also their intention to float a company in the' Dominion in connection, with the aeroplane. The present exhibition has been arranged solely for the purpose of raising funds to enable the inventors to procure a proper a«ro-motor. The machine will view ,until further -notice.