FLIGHT ACROSS TASMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21553, 26 July 1933, Page 8

FLIGHT ACROSS TASMAN

BUILDING OF MONOPLANE PROGRESS AT SYDNEY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Work in connection with the manufacture of the machine to be flown across the Tasman in December by Squadron-Leader T. W. White is proceeding at Cockatoo Dock, Sydney, according to advice received by Mr. Shiel, aviation officer for the Vacuum Oil Company. The machine, .a twin-engined monoplane, has been designed to maintain height while ftying. with one engine only, and will carry six passengers and their baggage, as well as a load of mail, at a cruising speed of 125 miles an hour and a top speed of, 140 miles. Ihe aeroplane will incorporate one feature that has not hitherto been used iii ' aircraft construction. In place of a heavy retractable undercarriage, the monoplane will be fitted with movable wheel fairings, commonly known as pants, which can be lifted ,when the niacinne is about to land. Fixed wheel pants " have been in fairly general use to reduce the drag produced by wheels in fl'ght and t,o permit a more e\en flow of air round them, thereby increasing the speed of the machine, but it has been found that these fairings may be dangerous if mud clogs them when landing. Hie name of the machine has not yet been chosen, but the type will be known as the Wackett-Codock. " Coilock is an abbreviation of Cockatoo JJock, where it is being built under tlio supervision of Wing-Cominander L. J. W aekctt. Sir Charles Kingsford ■ Smith will "lake a trip-to England before tho Tasnian flight. \\ith Lady Kingsford > liuth, lie will sail from, Melbourne for •lava early in August.-At Java ho will board a Dutch air liner for England ii Kmrsfonl Smith will return to Melbourne. Sir Charles hopes to leave England some time in September op early in Oetober for Sydney, thus taking advantage of the abseuee of tho monsoonal disturbances that have been hanmering; Mr. J. Woods on his flight# to England. •