TEST OF MONOPLANE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21232, 12 July 1932, Page 11

TEST OF MONOPLANE.

MACHINE BUILT AT WAIUKU.

SATISFACTORY TRIAL FLIGHT. [FROM our own correspondent.] "WAIUKU. Monday. A successful trial flight was made this afternoon by the first aeroplane to be constructed at Waiuku on commercial lines. The machine is a monoplane, designed and built by Dunlop Erikson Aircraft, Waiuku, the principals of which are Mr. H. Dunlop, an engineer, and Mr. G. Erikson, a young electrician, who has made a studv of aircraft construction.

The large shed on the wharf was used as the factory for the building of the aeroplane, which was started about 18 months ago. Preliminary trials, in which the machine was in the air lor a few seconds, were made, and to-day was selected for a more thorough test. Conditions were good. The pilot was Mr. W. Stanton, of New Plymouth, and formerly of Waiuku, who is an ex-pupil of the Auckland Aero Club. He commented on landing that the machine proved perfectly airworthy and stable. Taking off at Pukeoware, to the east of Waiuku, he attained an altitude of about 1500 ft., circled slowly above the town, and landed again at Pukeoware. The flight occupied approximately 20 minutes, ajid covered a course estimated at about 20 miles. A speed of 85 miles an hour was attained. A run of just over 50 yards was required to take off, and 65 yards to land.

The machine is a single-seater, and an engine developing up to 40 h.p. is used. The fuel tank capacity is eight gallons of petrol, which gives a flying range of about 320 miles, being estimated as sufficient for three to four hours' flying. Miss Richfield is to be the namo of the monoplane, and on further tests proving satisfactory, application is to be made to the Director of Air Services, SquadronLeader T. M. Wilkes, for the necessary licence to use the machine for longer flights.