STEAM-DRIVEN ’PLANE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 April 1934, Page 5

STEAM-DRIVEN ’PLANE

GERMAN ENGINEER’S PLANS

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

BERLIN, April 16.

A German engineer, Herr Huettner, has drafted plans fox* a steamdriven aeroplane 65 feet long, with a wing spread of 100 feet. The boiler will be heated by oil gas. The plane is expected to have a cruising speed of 240 miles an hour, with a maximum of 270 miles, and will reach a height of 27,000 feet. The designer hopes it will fly in

one hop from Germany to Japan in 60 hours, or from Germany to San Francisco, to Capetown, to Rio De Janiero, or to Singapore.

It is claimed that Herr Huettne:

has solved the problem of a satisfactory ratio of weight to power. Hitherto, steam engines in aeroplanes have broken down owing to their great weight. Herr Huettner’s solu-

tion consists of a revolving boiler, combined with a steam turbine.

If successful, his scheme will be applicable to motor-cars.

NEW GUINEA-SYDNEY FLIGHT

SYDNEY, April 16

The New Guinea airman, Marshall, completed his solo flight from New Guinea in three and a-half days, despite bad weather.

TO ATTEND CENTENARY.

LONDON, April 16.

Lord Semphill, piloting his own Puss Moth, will fly to Melbourne, in time for the centenary celebrations.

“INVASION FROM THE AIR.”

LONDON, April 16. A New Zealander, Frank Mcllraith, and Roy Connolly, of Sydney, have collaborated in a book, which is being published at the end of May, entitled “Invasion from the Air,” which is an

ingenious story of the next European war, in which eleven days of aerial horror produce a stalemate. International war ceases, and civil wars follow.

AIR MAIL SERVICE

[PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, April 16

According to advice received by thej Acting-Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department, Mr. J. Robertson, little hope is entertained by the Australian postal authorities of the present weekly air'mail service from England to Singapore being extended to Australia, much before the end of the current year. New Zealand is vitally interested in this extension, foi- the Government has agreed to subsidise the completed service to the extent of £5,000 a year. Three-fifths of this sum will be paid to the British Government, and twofifths to the Australian Government.

CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIA

AUCKLAND, April 17.

“Apart from our pioneering friends, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr. C. T. P. Ulm, there is very little interest in Australia in aviation in New Zealand,” said Mr. S. E. Nielson, secretary of the New Zealand and New Plymouth Aero Clubs, who returned by the Monowai last evening from a business visit to Australia. He said that there was little interest in the Commonwealth, even in making a connection by air between Australia and New Zealand. “The whole of Australia’s interest at present,” said Mr. Neilson, “is in c

onnection with the Australia-Singa-pore link in the air service to England, and in the immediate arrangements for internal air services. Tenders for the mail contracts for these services closed recently.”

CENTENARY RACE

WELLINGTON, April 17. Chichester, interviewed to-day, said at it was not to be accepted that

the effort to secure the nomination of a New Zealand team for the Melbourne centenary race should be allowed to fail, and he was confident that, even so late in the day as this, that means can be found to send a team away. He said that the organisation of the flight was of as great importance as the actual piloting of the machine, and he proposed as manager-captain, Mr. A. W. Nisbet, of Wellington, and as pilot, Mr. J. S. Hewett, of Auckland. The race would be the greatest sporting event of this year, and New Zealanders should make an effort to live <Up to their reputation as sportingpeople. An ..entry would be expensive, the minimum required being £8,125, but spread over the whole Dominion the cost should be found in a short time. Subscription lists should be opened at all centres right away. Seen later, Mr. Nesbit said that the suggestion that he should be a participant was a complete surprise. While Chichester had seen fit to nominate him as organiser and co-pilot, the final selection in the event of the necessary amount being raised would rest presumably with the committee controlling the fund, in which case a pilot of more experience than himself would probably be selected.