ADVANCE IN AVIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18679, 8 April 1924, Page 7

ADVANCE IN AVIATION.

PROBLEM OF SLOW FLIGHT. RAY TO STOP AEROPLANES. PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION By Telegraph— Association Copyright. (Received 5-5 p.m.) Sun. LONDON. April 6. The Daily Mail states that a new Haviland aeroplane, permitting slower landings, is being tested. A portion of each wing is hinged and mounted on springs drawing the flaps downwards. These springs give a good grip of the air when the force of the airstream is lessened by the pilot throttling down the engine for alighting. The invention solves the problem of flying slowly without losing control, which causes most of tho aeroplane fatalities. The Daily Mail also states that Mr. Gcinnell Matthews, whom the British Government paid £25,000 during the war for an invention for controlling mo toe-boats by searchlight, claims to have discovered an electric ray capable of stopping aeroplanes in flight. He declares that when 'he read recently that French aeroplanes were repeatedly falling in German ■ territory owing to mysterious engine -trouble, he realised that the Germans had found an invisible ray for putting magnetos out of action. I concentrated, he said, on the discovery of this, and I am certain I have succeeded. I believe the ray discovered is sufficient not only to stop aeroplanes, but to destroy'them or anything else on which it rests including powdec magazines Mr. Matthews gave a practical demonstration of stopping a motorcycle fifty feet away by a ray from a lens apparatus.