AEROPLANE TEST

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 January 1928, Page 9

AEROPLANE TEST

NEW TYPE IN AUSTRALIA

aeroplane of a new type in Australia wa'.s tested at the Mascot aerodrome recently, by Mr E. VV. Porcival, who imported the machine direct from Britain,, states the “Sydney Morning Herald." The type is known as the Avro-Avian, and was built at the A.vro works under supervision of the British Air Ministry. It complies witlq the latest specifications respectin*; airworthiness, reliability, and ease of handling. These features were apparent during the demonstration and test flights last week. All sorts of air stunts were carried out successfully by Captain Perrival, in order to test how the machine answered its controls in varying positions and styles of flight. In loops, spins, rolls, and other positions the machine was wonderfully sensitive to the pilot’s wishes, and answered the controls promptly and effectively. In commercial flights, for which the machine will be used, there will bo no stunts, so thalt its flight will be an easy and steady glide at a speed varying from 90 to 105 miles per hour. 'The normal cruising speed is 90 m.p.h., but the engine develops up to 205 m.p.h. without being pushed un-

duly, ft is one of the ArmstrongSiddeley types that have wonderful records to their credit, including the various long-distance flights by i»Sir Alan Pobliam and Colonel Lindbergh. The type used in the Avro Avian is ihe “Genet, ” a radial engine developing 7kS h.p. at ISSO revolutions per minute. The petrol consumption is comparatively low, so that the machine, in addition to carrying a pilot, a passenger, and 501 b of luggage, can carry sufficient fuel and oil for nine hours at the rate of 90 miles per hour, thus giving a safe cruising range '.V over 800 miles.

! One feature of the Avro Avian is |that the wings eah be folded so that ithe machine can be housed in a space ;X feet 6 inches high by 9 feet 6 inches • wide. When the wings are being folded there is a simultaneous contraction of the under-carriage, so that the weigh* that has to be lifted to house the mn|chine can easily be handled by one inan,

I A number of passengers were taken lup on demonstration flights, and on [alighting spoke in appreciative terms ’of the behaviour of the machine whilst in, the air and taking off and alighting.