NEW MONOPLANE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22318, 16 January 1936, Page 9

NEW MONOPLANE

geodetic principle REVOLUTIONARY FEATURES LONDOST, Jan. 14 The Sun-Herald news service says experts believe that aerial warfare may be revolutionised by a monoplane ba«ed on a geodetic construction invented by Air. B. N. Wallis, designer of the dirigible EIOO. The Daily Express says'the machine is constructed with wafer-thin spars and tubes and could be riddled with bullets without collapsing. -

The Air Ministry has placed a large order for the machines with Vickers. The Morning Post's aviation writer says geodetic construction will permit of sensational increases in speed, range and load.

The Vickers single-engined military monoplane, which made its first public appearance at the display held by the Society of British Aircraft Constructors at Hendon last year, and has been ordered in quantity for the Royal Air Force, is officially given the name Welleslev I. This aeroplane is a monoplane with wings of exceptionally high aspect ratio —span relative to depth from front to back. It is of particularly clean external design, and the undercarriage is retractable. Power is derived from a Bristol Pegasus radial motor."" Structurally, its importance lies mainly in its being the first of full "geodetic" construction to be put into production for the Royal Air Force. This method of building aeroplanes, a British invention which promises to rank with the chief achievements of all time in aeronautical engineering, enables great economies to be effected in structure weight without any sacrifice in strength. Wings made on this system are enormously strong for their weight, and the result is that greater range and bigger useful loads are possible. Performance details of the Wellesley may not yet be cited, but it is known that in range and military load they far exceed officially specified requirements.