AEROPLANE TRIUMPH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13647, 15 January 1908, Page 7

AEROPLANE TRIUMPH.

A FRENCH INVENTION. '

UNDER PERFECT CONTROL.

By Telejrrapb— Press A*»ocsation.— Copyright-

(Keceired January H, 11.45 p.m.)

Paris, January 14. M. Henri Farmax, the well-known French motorist, to-day succeeded in beating all previous aeroplane records with his new machine, winning the Deutsch-archdeacou prize of £2000.

The machine covered 1100 yards in 83 seconds, a circular course through goals and back being set.

Amid great cheering M. Farman repeated the performance.

Describing a previous test made on October 27 our London correspondent wrote: —M. Farman has made a wonderful flight in his new aeroplane by travelling 850 yds, or nearly half a mile, in 55 seconds. He accomplished the feat on the military parade ground at Isey yesterday, with the same aeroplane on which he flew 300 yds 10 days ago. There was a great crowd of spectators on the fortifications and all round the ground, and the onlookers cheered themselves hoarse as the great machine, without gasbag or any balloonlike appendage rushed along the ground, and then rose gradually into the air. The ground was very muddy, and at first it was feared that the wheels of the aeroplane would stick in the ruts. But the immense unwieldy-looking thing rushed quite lightly over' 250 yds of ground, and then &kimme3 upwards, driven by its 50 horse-power motor, as gracefully as a bird. It gently rose and fell, keeping at a distance of from 4ft to 15ft above the earth, and came to the ground again quite lightly and under the most perfect control. This success will win for M. Farman the £60 prize offered by the Aviation Club de France, for the first flight of more than 547 yds. His machine is not unlike that of M. Santos-Dumont. It is constructedof steel wire, aluminium, and canvas, and in appearance it is somewhat like an immense box kite."