AVIATION IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 9

AVIATION IN AUSTRALIA.

CONSTRUCTING MACHINES. A THREE-ENGINED MONOPLANE. The first three-engined aeroplane to be built in Australia is now on the stocks at the Melbourne aerodrome. The maiden flight should be made early next year. Tho machine has been designed by Mr. W. S. Shackleton, who was identified with tho building of the Bcardmore Inflexible, the 15-ton monoplane recently introduced by the well-known Glasgow firm. The new Australian aeroplane will also be of monoplane design and fivecylinder 130 h.p. Armstrong-Si'ddeley Mongoose engines will'bo fitted. As a special safety featuro the machine has been planned to take off with a full load with one engino idle. 'I he enclosed cabin will seat seven persons and it will be luxuriously appointed with a folding table and provision for light meals. Tho cabin walls will bo insulated to ensure elimination of excessive engino noise and vibration. Tho construction of such a large machine is an ambitious effort for a Commonwealth aircraft company, although the plant ,is already working on an order for 32 light training machines for the Government. At the end of iTuno tho company put a taxi-plane of its own dosign into' service. This machine is of allmetal fuselage construction, with a cabin upholstered and finished in woodwork to resemble the interior of a luxurious motorcar. The air-taxi has a non-stop range of 600 miles. The company operating these machines commenced business in 1919 and to date 12,000 passengers have been carried an aggregate of 800,000 miles without one instance of injury.