A FLYING WING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

A FLYING WING.

A new plane, secretly developed and flown in the United States, approaches closely to the ideal " flying wing," and with an engine of only 60 horse-power, has flown at over 100 miles an hour. The wing itself. 50ft. in span, is internally braced, with nol a, single exposed brace. It. is quite thick at its centre, thick enough to contain a comfortable cock-pit. There is no fuselage, the tail surfaces being supported by two long, stream-lined outriggers, running from the wing. A four-cylinder, inverted, aircooled engine projects front the forward centre of the wing. The ■ ' pusher " propeller is placed at the rear, and is driven by a long shaft, extending from the rear of the engine. Since it is not convenient to carry a tail-skid or tailwheel on outriggers, a three-wheel land-ing-gear is placed under tho wing, with the rear wheel steerablo for taxi-ing on the ground. The centre rear wheel is somewhat nearer to tho wing than the others, so that a suitable low-tail landing attitude can be readily assumed. Besides the internal bracing of the wing, tho two factors tending to increase efficiency nro (1) the disappearance of tho fuselage and the placing of the pilot in the wing; (2) the use of the "pusher" propeller, which interferes less with tho flow over the. wing, and the slipstream from which meets fewer parts, so that resistance is reduced. There is no doubt that the design constitutes a step forward in aerodynamic efficiently. It is creating much interest in aviation circles in the United Stales, whero its progress will bo carefully watched.