The first public demonstration of the Sperry gyro-pilot, which is said to do everything but take-off and land an aeroplane, was given a few weeks ago in the United States. Carrying eighteen passengers, a large transport machine took,off, and directly it was in the air the pilot set the course and gave over the control to the gyro-pilot. A perfect line was kept on the outward journey, and on returning the aeroplane passed directly over the centre of the home airport. The new device, nick-named the "Dumb Major," appears to make it possible for aircraft to keep a perfect compass course regardless of weather conditions, so that services can be kept to time-table so long as there is visibility for taking off and landing. The mechanism is an adaptation of that in use for some years past in many ocean going steamers.
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Bibliographic details
King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3444, 17 March 1932, Page 6
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142Untitled King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3444, 17 March 1932, Page 6
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