The Aviation World

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21344, 19 November 1932, Page 7 (Supplement)

The Aviation World

AUCKLAND AERO CLUB NEWS

BX AILERON

In spite of unfavourable weather conditions, there were many visitors at Mangere aerodrome lust Saturday afternoon. One or two showers did not prevent* <1 number of people making short flights with the instructor, Plight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan, in the orange Moth, the Fuss being still away on a tour of the Dominion. Among the visitors were the Consul for France, M. Edouard Joubert, and a party of friends. M. Joubert made a short flight with Mr. Allan. Among the other passengers on Saturday was a blind man, who had his first experience of flying.

All the club machines available, the five Moths, visited Te Aroha last Wednesday, when the Te Aroha Club's new hangar was opened. The visitors from Auckland included :—The president, Mr. E. 11. Boucher, who flew the green machine and took a passenger; the instructor, who took Mr. V. Salok in the orange; Mr. C. J. l'aine, who took a passenger in the metal; Mr. F. C. Cadman, who had Mr. K. Robinson as his passenger in the blue; and Mr. Tf. G. Tappenden. who went with Mr. W. J. Sexton in (ho yellow. Two of the machines returned to Mangere late in the afternoon, and one was immediately flown back to Te Aroha by Mr. J. M. Stevenson. Exhibitions of " stunting " were given during the day, and in the evening there was a dance, which was well attended.

Tlio proposal for a tour of the North Island by pilots of various clubs at Christmas lime, which was made at a recent meeting of Iho executive of tlio local club, hits been enthusiastically received by several other clubs in various parts of the country. Advice has been received that tlio Wairarapa Club is prepared to lend its support, while favourable replies have also been received from the New Plymouth, Hawke's Bay and Wellington Clubs. No definite arrangements have yet/ been made. CURING " FLAT " SPINS Much model and full-scalo experiment has gone the eludication of problems connected with the spinning of an aeroplane, when the machine is diving and at the same time turning rapidly, and hazardous tasks are performed by the official test pilots, men whose work is of the greatest importance in the furtherance of aeronautical science, but who aro quite unknown to the general public. Tribute is paid in tlio latest report of tlio,Aeronautical Research Committee to the skill and courage of Flight-Lieutenant C. E. Maitland, who made recently full-scalo i tests which for the first time enabled instrumental records to be obtained of the behaviour of an aeroplane in a dangerous " flat" spin. In two of the spins the aircraft made respectively no fewer than 34 and 40 turns before the pilot effected recovery on to a level keel. Largely as a result of his flights, certain aeroplanes which tended to get into this highly dangerous " flat " spin have been cured of the vice. " PTERODACTYL " MACHINES Shortly to bo added to the historic aircraft exhibited in the Science Museum at South Kensington, London, is the " Pterodactyl Mark I," first of a series of curious tailless aeroplanes which were invented by Captain G. T. R. Hill and are now being developed at the Westland aircraft works. The machine will be hung in the galleries, in company with the Wright biplane in which the first authenticated aeroplane flight was made 29 years ago, the first British-built plane, the last Schneider Trophy winner and other famous craft.

The " Pterodactyl " was built in glider form without engine by Captain Hill and his wife at their home. Following successful gliding trials over the South Downs, help was obtained from tho Air Ministry and a two-cylinder Bristol " Cherub " 34 h.p. motor was installed for power flights. Unlike some other efforts with unorthodox flying machines, the first trial flight was a complete success tind the aeroplane, as it will be exhibited, is almost exactly as it was when it took the air for the first time. The tailless aeroplane is steered by movements of rudders and controllers mounted at tho wing-tips.