AIR CONQUEST

Evening Star, Issue 18256, 21 April 1923, Page 2

AIR CONQUEST

GLIDER AT CHRISTCHURCH. TRIALS FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL. [Pee United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, April 20. Up till recently experiments with gliders were confined to tlio Northern Hemisphere, but a recent acquisition by the Canterbury Aviation Company, Limited, has made it possible for Christchurch people to take a first-hand interest in glider work. A Handasyde monoplane glider has been purchased by the company, and tests were made this afternoon. Those responsible for the flight of the machine were somewhat handicapped by the absence of a convenient hillock from which to carry out tests, and means had to be devised. The weather .conditions also were not favorable. The slight breeze which blew during the afternoon did not offer the glider sufficient resistance to- enable it to ascend properly, and even in Hits course of the most successful attempt the ascent was a trifle wobbly. It is hoped, when the weather conditions are more favorable, that some highly successful flights will _ be made. On all but three or four occasions the glider actually rose from the ground, and flying men present were convinced that its possibilities were not uncertain, but that, given favorable conditions, it

would bo possible to keep tbe glider in the air for a considerable period. AX INTERESTING MACHINE. [Special to toe ‘Stab.’] CHRISTCHURCH, April 20. The glider which was tried to-day at Sockbnrn aerodrome io one of the Handasydo monoplane type, and is the same class of machine ns that* which is being used in experiments in England and France. Its length over all is 16ft 7in, and the span of the front king is 36ft. Tho width of the tail is 7ft 6in. and the area of the main plane is 157 ft square feet, Tho elevator is 17 square, feet, and the rudder 6 square feet. The glider was designed by Raynham and Sydney Comm, in conjunction with Mr Hamlasyde, and was built tor tho Ilanda-sydo Aircraft Company by the Air Navigation Company. It is characterised by a largo cantilever wing, and the fuselage is comparatively small. The framework is light, and is constructed of spruce covered with three-ply wood. The controls are of a somewhat unusual type, and tho “ Joy-stick,” which is used for operating tho balance elevator only, is placed on the right side; while the rudder is worked by two footr-pedals. The pilot’s cockpit, also, is very small, and is situated between tho main wing spars, while tho seat is low—the pilot’s head just appearing above the tog of the cockpit. The under-carriage consists of two ash skids.