BRITAIN’S AERIAL DEFENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 February 1934, Page 7

BRITAIN’S AERIAL DEFENCE

WHOLE PROBLEM CHANGED NEW PLANE’S RAPID .CLIMB [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, February 8. During the Commons debate, last night, Captain Cunningham Reid revealed that a new British aeroplane, capable of climbing 20,000 feet in nine minutes, had given the defence mastery of the attack and changed the whole problem. Such planes, he said, were of no use for aggression. The aeroplane referred to is the Hawker Super Faery. It is claimed that it can go practically straight up like a lift. The French Air Ministry has concluded an agreement with Handley Page Limited, and paid a substantial sum for the full rights of the French Air Force and French manufacturers to fix Handley Page slotted wings to their aircraft in French territory. This decision was taken after’ exhaustive trials which fully substantiated the increased safety which the slotted wing gives....lncidentally, they confirmed the wisdom of the decision of the' British. Air Ministry in Standardising and fitting of the Royal Air Force craft, the right to do so being acquired a few years ago for a.million pounds. The slotted wing consists mainly of auxiliary winglets which in normal flight lie flat against the front edge of the wings.' When the aeroplane loses flying speed, and gets into a potentially dangerous attitude, the winglets automatically slide out and the effect of the slot thus created between the winglets and the main plane is to preserve an unbroken air flow over the structure. The pilot thus maintains full control in circumstances which might otherwise send him into a nose dive and spin, the state of affairs responsible for ninety per cent of fatal flying accidents.

ITALIAN PREPARATION ROME, February 9. Italy is planning a most determined attempt to win the Melbourne air race. TASMAN FLIGHT. CHRISTCHURCH, February 9. An air race from Melbourne to Christchurch via Sydney and New Plymouth, after the Melbourne centenary air race, has been suggested by a group of men in Christchurch, who are now investigating the problem of raising £5OOO, the sum thought necessary to tempt the competitors in the centenary race to continue to the Dominion. The value of the publicity which such a race would bring the Dominion is emphasised by Mr J. R. Climie, secretary of the Canterbury Aero Club and fo'rmer secretary of the New Zealand Aero Club, who is one of those interested. The chance of having some of the world’s best pilots and aeroplanes racing to the Dominion from Australia is thought to be too good to miss. - It is proposed to interest organisations, including . the Aero Clubs throughout the country. ULM’S RETURN. WELLINGTON, February 9. Advice that Mr C. P. Ulm proposed to leave Muriwai beach on Saturday morning of next week, and to take off at approximately six o’clock, was received by Mr B. Sheil, Aviation Officer of the Vacuum Oil Coy., in a telegram from Mr C. W. Smythe, Ulm’s manager, who is now in New Plymouth. The decision upon the more northerly take-off is based on the expectation of better weather conditions.

“It means that the servicing arrangements which have been completed at Blenheim, will have to be duplicated,” Mr Sheil said, “and as for the mail, I understand that there are about 25,000 letters in the post office at Blenheim. Ulm is due to have left Sydney by the Marama to-day for Wellington.”