WHANGAREI-BUILT PLANE

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1930, Page 4

WHANGAREI-BUILT PLANE

LONG TASK COMPLETED. SUCCESSFUL TEST MADE. The “air miudeduess” of the general public is growing apace, and even in Whangarei—so far removed from any centre of activity in aviation matters—'this interest in man’s age-long attempt to conquer the force of gravity has'made itself keenly apparent. The latest step in this direction has been the building of an aeroplane locally. The men iconeerned in this enterprise are: Messrs E. Smith, R. Leckie, R. Macdonald and J. Gill. The last-named, who has had experience with the Royal Air Force, will be pilot. The machine is home-made throughout, including wheels and tyres. The body of the machine has been made of the best available timber and steelwork which the builders could procure. The power is derived from an adapted motor-cycle engine and the total j weight is 2851b5. One day last week the plane was transported by motor lorry to the Harbour Board’s reclamation, where a successful ground test was made. Owing to the ground being wet and heavy, however, no attempt was made to take the air. The engine functioned satisfactorily during the test. The ground was extremely soft and the wheels sank some inches into the mud, but the builders are confident that, given a suitable ground, the plane will i