AUCKLAND AEROPLANE!

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1096, 7 April 1911, Page 6

AUCKLAND AEROPLANE!

ANOTHER EXHIBITION. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.} Auckland, April G. Such of the public as have journeyed to the (lying grounds at Papaknra in the hope of seeing the Walsh aeroplane go up have mostly been disappointed. The occasions upon which it has left tho ground have been lew. A few weeks ago a special Night for the benefit of the public was announced, but during t.ome early morning trials the machine tell and was damaged, so the promised iliglit had to be abandoned, l-'yr some days past the machine has been on exhibition at the Hying grounds, at a rate of admission per head, to -assist the syndicate- of owners to recover some of the expense they have incurred in their experiments. Yesterday that exhibition closed, and to mark the occasion a flight afternoon was held. Attracted by the prospect of a possible sensation a score or more, of peonle were present. The machine was in the" hands of Mr. V. Walsh, a youthful pilot, who showed that he had acquired a very good control over tho engine, and the movements of (he various ports of the machine. Unfortunately the Manurewa, or "Gliding Bird," practically declined to fly. It was quite used to "rolling practice," and very willingly rau about the big paddock squirting clouds of white smoke from its exhaust pipes, and making a fine noise, aod evidently had a good' mind to "get off the earth" to avoid the bumpy passage caused by ths unevenness of (he ground. Now and then, coaxed by the pilot, it turned up its nose (if one may so describe the lilting of i the elevator plane), and lionncd slowly from the grass to a height of sometimes a few inches, sometimes a foot or more, and settled down quietly again upon the comparatively safe earth. A chain or so further on, in one run, three short "lions" wore effected. Only once did the Imp develop into anything approaching real flight, and then ths m<v.liine rose a pood 1(1 feet, or perhaps 15 feet, and glided about 50 yards. Tlwa it came.down somewhat..abruptly. The skid under the tail of the frame struck the ground first, and the whole chassis landed with a bump. The shock broke, a couple of the wire stays, and the day's flying ended with tile first real approach to flight. The conditions, for an exhibition were very good, as only a very faint but steady breeze was blowing, but there was evidently something the matter with the machine". The exiierts blamed the propeller, wlii"h was a home-made article," and pointed out that it took tje machine all its lime to leave the ground when the engine was going full speed. The demonstration was disappointing as n spectacle.