ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 2

ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA

MR BUTLER’S FLIGHT MAKING GOOD PROGRESS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CALCUTTA, November 5. Mr .Butler arrived here at 9.15, and has left for Akyah. AHEAD OF RECORD AKYAB, November 5. (.Received November 6, at 10 a.m.) Mr Butler bus arrived. He left Jhansi at 1.30 in the morning, and arrived at Calcutta at 9.15. He left for Akyab at 12.(10 after being held np by torrential rain. He is still a few hours ahead of the record. He expects to arrive at Singapore on Friday' night and Australia on Sunday.

THE COMPER "SWIFT"

SINGLE SEATER PARASOL MONOPLANE The machine being used by Mr Arthur -Butler, a well-known Australian aviator, in his ■ attempt to lower the record between England and Australia, is a now British typo of aircraft. This light aeroplane has been designed to sujt the needs of those buyers who require at small. cost a speedy tourer and sporting racer. For club use it is ideal for advanced’solo work, and with its small size and robust construction

tho maintenance and repair costs should be very small. Tho Compel' “ Swift ” was designed by Flight-lieu-tenant Comper, late Royal Air Force, and has a top speed of just over 120 miles per hour, and a cruising speed of at least 110 miles per hour. This fact, coupled witli the excellent comfort and vision, renders tho aeroplane most suitable for long cross-country work. At tho same time its low landing speed of forty to forty-five miles per hour, combined with very carefully-designed control surfaces and tho inherent stability' peculiar to the parasol _monoplane, promises popularity for this typo of machine for llydng in Australia. The high top speed is made possible by clean design, embodying a minimum of external struts or fitments. For example, tho shock-absorbing system for tho undercarriage is actually in the fuselage, and there are no external bracing wires or cables, 1 The pilot’s cockpit places the pilot aft of tho monoplane wing and the forward dock of the fuselage, which runs into tho top surface of the wing, is so shaped that tho pilot can see every' point in the field of vision by a slight inclination of his head. The altimeter and speed indicator arcmounted directly behind therear spar on each side of tho fuselage, just where the pilot wants these instruments, and not mixed up with the pressure gauge, level indicator, and revolution counter.

which are conventionally mounted on tho main dashboard. The wings are folded very simply, and this is easily carried out by ono man. Thii fusclago is built in three separate sections, and is of wOoden girder construction, almost entirely devoid of bracing. The wings are formed of conventional one-section spars, with ribs which are miniature girders built up with glued and pinned gusset joints. The main characteristics of the Swift, which is constructed by the (temper Aircraft Ltd., Cheshire, arc; Span, 24ft; chord, 4ft; wing area. 90 square feet; length overall, l?ft 4in; width bf elevator and tail plane assembly, 7ft 4iin. ;