AVIATION NOTES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 6, 2 October 1929, Page 16

AVIATION NOTES

A CHEAP, LIGHT MACHINE

(By

“Tailskid.”)

Last week information was received from "Christchurch that Mr. W. Dini’s Heath Super-Parasol monoplane had been flown by Captain M. H. Buckley at Wlgraui Aerodrome, and that the pitot had remarked on the fact that the machine iiew very well and had good manoeuvring power. The parts were imported from America ten weeks ago and Mr. Dini assembled them practically unaided. . , , The production ot a really successful light ’plane that can be purchased at a price within reach of the general public has been a phase of light ’plane development which in the past has made little progress, but the Heath “Parasol” can be purchased by the private owner or a .small flying club for tbe price of a motorcycle and operated with as little expense as a small car. Designed to meet the demand for a practical sports ’plane, the “Parasol,” has exceptionally clean lines, and embodies many new ideas in construction. A'u inherent stability is claimed by the makers, which makes the little ship safe in the hands of an amateur with only a few hours’ flying experience, and they state that the ship flies for long stretches with hands off the controls,” and in fact it has been demonstrated that turns can be made, without touching the controls, by simply leaning out over the side of the cockpit, a feat quite impossible with any big ’plane! This tiny bus with its parasol (suspended fuselage) type of design, embodies some radical features not found in any other sports ’plane, which make it possible to construct the machine quickly and inexpensively. The fuselage is of modern steel tube construction, but contrary to common American practice no welded joints are employed. Instead the tubing is held together by simple metal fittings and wires. Seated on the floor, the pilot has ample leg room, and the parasol construction gives him a perfect field of vision. There are the conventional stick and rudder-bar controls. The motor is mounted on ash bearers, supported by several light steel tubes, and the landing gear is also _ of steel tubing, rigid and light in weight. Tail surfaces are made of light spruce framework, fabric covered, and the wings are of conventional design with spruce I-beams, ribs and webs, and are pinned without centre section.

General specifications are as follow: Span, 23ft.; chord, 4ft. din.; angle of incidence, 3 degrees; wing area; 94 sq. ft.; aileron area, 10 sq. ft.; elevator area, 5.2 sq. ft.; stabiliser area, 5.5 sq. ft.; tin area, 1 sq. ft.; rudder area, 3.8 sq. ft.; length, 16ft. 9in.; height, sft. lOin.; weight (empty), 2901 b.; useful load, 225 lb.; fuel capacity, 3.3 gallons; oil capacity, 3 quarts; high speed, 70 m.p.h.; landing speed, 32 m.p.h.; cruising radius, 120 miles.

As, however, the useful load is 2251 b., it is possible to considerably extend the cruising range by the use of a larger tank. Considerable difficulty was experienced in finding a power plant of 20 to 30 h.p. for this little craft, for the engine had to be light, compact, reliable, easy to maintain, and, above all, inexpensive. Automobile engines were too heavy, and motor-cycle engines of too little power, while special aircraft engines were too dear. At length by evolving a special conversion that allows tbe propeller to be driven directly from the crankshaft, it was found possible to adapt successfully the Henderson four-cylinder vertical air-cooled motor-cycle engine to the requirements. This motor gives 23 h.p. at 3000 revs, and a petrol consumption of 14 gallons an hour. The “prop.” is a special Heath wooden propeller of 4ft. lOin. diameter. By employing a WrightMorehouse or Bristol “Cherub” power plant 85 m.p.h. can be got out of the ’plane, it is stated. The price of the “Parasol” as sold from the works assembled and ready to fly away, is £139. The price of parts ready for assembling and without engine is £3B, while blue-prints cost another £l. The engine mentioned above costs about £45, and there is a crating charge of £3, which brings the total to about £B7, plus freight and duty. Where a very small machine of this type should find much favour is in the case of trainees who have put in sufficient dual work to start solo work, and have five hours’ solo to do before they can qualify for the A grade ticket and 40 more hours before qualifying for the B grade ticket. The money ordinarily expended in stacking up flying time on a club ’plane could well be put into the purchase of one of these light “flyabouts,” and after passing the B test the owner would have the advantage of possessing his own private ’plane for use whenever required. Advent of the Glider. A most enthusiastic gathering of nearly 50 Auckland University College students one day last week, the womenfolk being well represented, resulted in the formation of a gliding club for the purpose of building and flying sail-planes and gliders (says the “Sun”). At the opening of the meeting Mr.- D. Harkness, a well-known Auckland aviator and lecturer at the college, was unanimously elected to the chair. He briefly mentioned the great progress gliding had made in other countries, especially Germany. Sydney University students had recently formed a club, which was doing quite well. Gliding was indeed a great opportunity for enthusiasts of the air, and it did not demand a very great financial outlay. The showing of lantern slides of gliders by Mr. H. S. Bundy proved very instructive, and were much appreciated. This was followed by an address on the construction and general costs of building machines by Mr. F. C. McDonald, president of the Auckland Model Aero and Gliding Club. His club already had a glider under construction, which should be completed in tbe near future. He considered that there was plenty of room for two clubs in Auckland, and it could well be expected that later on contests would be held between the two chibs. It was proposed that the club should start operations immediately the examinations were over, in order that it would be possible to do some gliding during the coming summer vacation. All the machines will be constructed by club members, and the college’s engineering students.