NEW LIGHT PLANES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 21, 19 October 1938, Page 6

NEW LIGHT PLANES

? For Civil Air Guard Five new types of machines are b - ing introduced by British aircraft firms to meet the big demand for light amd ultra-light planes for the Civil Air Guard, writes Major C. C. Turner in the “Daily Telegraph” and “Morning Post.” By next spring production should be sufficient to secure independence of foreign types. A Moth Minor is announced by the De Ilavilland Aircraft Co. This machine is ar novel successor to famous antecedents, and is powered by a 90 h.p. Gipsy engine. It is a tandem twoseater monoplane with open cockpit, or, for touring purposes, fitted with a hinged roof. The wings are foldable for small hangar accommodation. Fitted with dual control, this machine may be tlowu from either cockpit, and it can be flown solo from either cockpit without using compensating ballast. It is stressed for aerobatics. The Moth Minor is designed for rapid production, and none of the materials used is costly or difficult to obtain.

General Aircraft announce for immediate production two trainers, and the increased production capacity at the disposal of this firm, owing to its acquisition' of the factory of the British Aircraft Manufacturing Company; will be of great, assistance. New plant is being installed and key men taken over.

Both types are to have tricycle undercarriages, which are claimed to simplify landings and reduce the risk. The C. W. Cygnet is an all-metal low-wing monoplane two-seater “sociable,” and it is the only light aeroplane embodying stressed skin construction. Its maximum speed is 150 m.p.h. fitted with a Gipsy Major 130 h.p. engine. The other typo is a light two-seater for beginners and js a ‘‘pusher” type, fitted with a 50 11. p. engine. Two ultra-light single-seaters, produced by the Luton Aircraft Company, appear to provide the link between power-flying and gliding. I’hey are designed by Mr. O. IL Latimer Needham, who also designs sailplanes. The Luton Buzzard and the Luton Minor are monoplanes, with engines of 28 or 30 h.p., o f different types’according to choice. Ix>w landing speed is a characteristic of both types.