NEW AEROPLANE

Evening Star, Issue 19617, 25 July 1927, Page 10

NEW AEROPLANE

SIR HENRY WIGRAM’S GIFT Sir Henry Wigravn, of Christchurch recently presented to the New Zealand Government a fighting aeroplane. The machine has, now been purchased, and some interesting particulars concerning it «irc available (savs tho ‘ Lyttelton Times’). _ ’ The aeroplane is described os the “Gloster Grebe,” a, single-seater lighter, which now forms part.ot tne standard equipment of the Royal Air Force. It is fitted with a 385 h.p. “Jaguar” air-cooled radial engine. The wings consist ol a high-lijt section upper wing and a medium-lift section bottom wing of somewhat reduced span and chord. The upper wings'are in two pieces, attached to a* cabane above the fuselage, _ there being no centre section. Gravity iuel tanks are built into the upper wings, one on each side of the machine. Either tank is capable of supplying the engine when the other is turned off. The armament consists of two A inkers machine guns firing through tho propeller, and, if desired, four 201 b bombs. Tho machine is designed for work at high altitudes, and has remarkably good raancouvrahility. It is very stable, and can be flown with hands off the controls. The specifications are:— Span, top, 29ft 4inSpan, bottom. 25ft. Chord, top, sft 3in. Chord, bottom, sft. Weight, loaded, 2,6001 h. Engine, “Jaguar,” 385 horse power. Petrol capacity, 52 gallons. Useful load, 4451 b. Speed, sea level, 125 miles per hour. Speed at 10,000 ft, 145 miles per hour. Climb to 20,000 ft, 23inin. With the supercharged “ Jaguar ” engine, the above performance figures have been considerably increased. Some machines arc also fitted with tho 460 h.p. Bristol “Jupiter” engine.