WONDERS OF SCIENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

WONDERS OF SCIENCE

Br RAYMOND JOHN QUINS (Ago 14). Tencyacn Street. Some of tho latest inventions are indeed very wonderful, but I think that although by no means one of th® most) recent, the aeropjano is certainly one of tho greatest. Propelled by powerful motors, they can attain a great speed in the air, as shown by the recent, tests for the Schneider Cup. The Wright Whirlwind motors are used a great deal on planes, mostly on tho large passenger planes where extra powerful motors are required. The fusilage of the planes is so curved, that there is scarcely any wind resistance and thus a greater speed is attained. Parts of tho wings and tail are movable, the rudder, aeroloins, elevato! and many others are moved to suit tho requirements of tho pilot, who has a great control over tho plane, as can be seen by the stunting done by him. One of tiie many safety devices with which tho modern plane is equipped is the slotted wings, which enable the plane to glido down from side to side, without any fear of its crashing. Despite the many inventions to prevent accidents there are still many risks in flying and many famous aviators have lost their lives in striving to establish new records for long-distance and endurance (lights, and still more frequently in speed tests. These accidents are due mostly to engine trouble and shortage of petrol.

Bofore ft piano takes off. tho engines are nearly always tuned up by the most experienced mechanics and special attention is given to tho large engines of the transocean passenger carrying pianos, as many lives depend on the trueness of the engines.

Tho aeroplane is a great factor in wartime, and was very much used in the Great War for spying out the movements of the enemy and bombing enemy ammunition dumps, and sometimes for landing spies in enemy territory Enemy plaues of ten met in an " aerial dog-fight," which was fought high above tho clouds, tho piano with tho superior gunfire being usually victorious. Aeroplanes are indeed deadly instruments of warfare —a huge bombing plane carrying only one massive two-ton bomb could do thousands of pounds worth of damage, and the machine-gun-lire (it one piano could wipe out a wholo legion of soldiers. An acroplano is a terrible war machine, but it is very useful in peace, and I think proat improvements will be mado on tho plane and still greater use found for it in ibe years to come.