The Aviation World

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21414, 11 February 1933, Page 5 (Supplement)

The Aviation World

BT AILERON

LATEST FLVING BPORT

British pilots have discovered a new sport, racing round a speedway, marked out by pylons erected on the aerodrome, in " ultra-light" aeroplanes driven by six horse-power motor-cycle engines. Four of these tiny machines, which apparently blend most successfully qualities of the glider and of the powered aeroplane, demonstrated at Hanworth Airpark, near London, recently a degree of easy control in the hands of skilled and unpractised pilots, alike, which astonished experts who | watched the races. Men like Flight-Lieutenant Stainforth, holder of the world's speed record, and ; Mr. C. W. A. Scott, famous for his fast : flights between England arid Australia, j declare that flying the little craft affords ; them endless pleasure. On the other hand, j Mr. Kaye Don, who had not flown for j more than 10 years, showed that they could i be handled with ease and assurance by j hands which had inevitably gone " rusty." j In fact, his quick and effective turning methods actually brought him victory in one heat over the profound knowledge and skill of Stainforth. Much of the undoubted safety of the " ultra-light " aeroplane resides in its low speed. Maximum speed attainable is only 45 miles an hour, and landing speed is about 18. Handling qualities are admirable. Pilots skimmed the grass on turns, sometimes " wheeling " literally with one wheel on the ground while still maintainmg flying speed. They flew in the race at heights above the ground of never more than 30ft. or 40ft., and the quickest manoeuvre seemed to involve no difficulties. Given a large enough field, an intelligent and fit individual could probably teach himself to fly one of them. With instruction none should take longer than an hour or two to gain sufficient mastery of the machine. Cross-Country Trips The designer of the aircraft, Mr. I/>weWylde, who is a well-known glider pilot and constructor, claims that the little machines are quite well suited to crosscountry trips in fair weather. They are capable of considerable performance, a fact proved by Mr. Lowe-Wylde the day after the race meeting when he climbed in one of them to a height of 4300 ft. He passed through two cloud layers and was still climbing when exhaustion of the fuel supply forced him to descend. The small gliding angle of the craft, implicit in its glider-like design, gave him an area of more than nine square miles in which to select a landing space. Had he been over broken country instead of the aerodrome, the advantage of this big gliding radiu3 would have been considerable indeed. Unfortunately, on almost every point of construction the " ultra-light" machines fail to reach the strength standards demanded by the Air Ministry before a certificate of airworthiness may be granted. Undoubtedly there is a case for relaxation of some of the usual requirements in certifying craft of such light weight and low speed. Upon the Ministry's decision depends the future of a fascinating sport and a means of introducing to tne joys of aviation many men and women who hesitate before the first cost and relative high speed of the orthodox modern aeroplane.

AUCKLAND AERO CLUB NEWS Preliminary arrangements for the Auckland Aero Club's display at Mangere aerodrome on March 11 will be discussed shortly by the executive. It is expected that there will be one of the largest gatherings of aeroplanes ever seen in Auckland, pilots bringing machines from each of the principal North Island centres. There is a possibility that the Southern Cross, with Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew, will _ also be present, although the recent mishap to the machine and the consequent rearrangement of Sir Charles' itinerary, makes it impossible for details to be finalised in connection with another Auckland visit. The first meeting of the year of the pilots' and pupils' section of the club will be held next Wednesday evening. The usual lecture will not be given, although the series will be continued later in the year. The following new members have been elected: Pupil, Mr. C. Neville; associate, Mesdames A. R. Brett and V. Salek, Messrs. N. E. Watson, E. W. Friedlander, R. Jaffe, R. W. Pollock, B. H. Morrison, A. G. Brown and J. 0. Penman. MISHAP TO SOUTHERN CROSS The unfortunate mishap to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's monoplane Southern Cross at Palmerston North last Saturday is regretted by flying enthusiasts throughout the Dominion. The incident, which was due to the heavy rain making a newly-filled portion of the aerodrome unexpectedly soft, is likely to result in a delay of some weeks, and Sir Charles may consequently abandon • his plan of making a return flight across the Tasman. N The necessary parts to carry out repairs to the monoplane can all be obtained in New Zealand, with th© exception of the propeller for the port- motor, Which was smashed. Two new airscrews are being obtained from Sydnfey, however, and one will be fitted, the second being retained as a spare. Repairs to the wing include the rebuilding of the damaged section, which necessitates about 14ft. of the framework being exposed and later recovered with fabric. The engine itself escaped damage, but the undercarriage requires a number of small m placements. LARGER AUTOGIRQ PLANNED An important new stage in the development of the curious autogiro, or windmill aeroplane is marked by the announcement that an order is likely to be placed this year for an experimental flying machine of the type to carry five passengers in ar enclosed cabin on the power of a single Armstrong Siddeley 535 horse-powei " Panther " air-cooled radial motor. De riving lift from curved rotating vanes in stead of the normal fixed wings, the auto giro has attained a certain measure oi success in smaller sizes of aircraft, thougl broadly speaking it has remained some what inferior in important details of per formance to normal aircraft of equivaleni power. Nevertheless, its supporters claiir that for given engine power a given loac may be airborne at higher speed in ar a'"- • ; ro than in a fixed-wing craft. Th< tru;h of that assertion should be placec beyond argument in flying trials of th< large machine now contemplated. AIRCRAFT IN BUSINESS An outstanding example of the valu< of aircraft to certain kinds of busines! when they are exploited with understand ing. and courage is given by the activitie: of a large mining and smelting company in Canada. It was in 1929 that the com pany decided that it would employ air craft for business purposes and purchasec three machines. These were used in carry ing supplies to camps where the com pany had exploratory operations in pro Cress. In addition, two of the campini mining engineers, who had qualified a nilots, were provided with de Havillam Moth light aeroplanes and five othe engineers were trained and sent out wit! their own a ; rcraft. They cover the dis tricts in their charge in the aeroplanes supervising the prospectors and examiniu discoveries offered- to them. During th last three seasons the company's aerc planes have operated in every provinc from Quebec to British Columbia and i the Northwest Territories. Of the origin® four machines three are still in and the fleet now totals 11. One of Moths, now three years old, has ex the total of 900 hours ii|» the «*•'