COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23442, 5 March 1938, Page 6

COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT

NEW ZEALANDER'S PART

•MAN WHO LIKES MS WORK .1

(From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) "LONDpN. Jan. 26. Although he is to participate shortly in a particularly daring aerial experiment, the New Zealand airman, Mr H. L. Piper, is not at all alarmed at the prospect. He regards the part he is to play in the first separation flight of the Mayo composite aircraft as all part of the day's work. ™„ 1o „ H In an interview for New Zealand readers yesterday he admitted that tne crucial first separation might be a ticklish business, but insisted that as a general "rule his* post as assistant test pilot to Short Brothers was enjoyable but "very quiet.'* Looking out at the Mayo- composite moored in the Medway almost opposite his office at Rochester, Mr Piper explained something of what will happen on the flight. Communication will be maintained between him in the upper component, the seaplane Mercury, and Mr J. Lankester Parker in the flying boat Maia, until just before the separation, by means of an arrangement of headphones and mouthpieces with plug-in connections between the two machines. These will automatically pull apart on separation. . The actual release mechanism musi be operated by both pilots, following which the final separation will be effected automatically. If, for any reason, this does not come about, the pilots can link their machines together again. The two pilots will be able to tell the stage reached in the manoeuvre by means of, a system o, light as well as by- their headphone communication. The light connection is provided by soft fuse wire which will pull apart when the machines separate. RESULT A GAMBLE

A number of adjustments are being made to the machines as a result oi the first combined flight recently. After that it will be necessary to await a suitable, wind and tide. The components can be launched in any weather, but there is always the possibility that the flying boat will have to be 'brought down with the seaplane still attached, as on the first flight. This is rather an awkward manoeuvie reouiring favourable conditions. Mr Piper said that what would happen' when the releases were operated could only be conjectural. Theoretically the machines should separate at a certain speed, but there was no proof that it would happen in practice. „, . „ He has complete confidence in m< chief Mr Parker, who has been a tesl pilot for no fewer than 21 years Until Mr Parker Rives him the release he can move the controls of tn? Mercury only a couple of inches Prior to that the whole operation of th<> composite is carried out in the Maia. "NOT AT ALL HEROIC" Mi Piper has flown the Mercury alone a good deal, and says it handles exceptionally well for a seaplane He is eagerly looking forward to the coming flight as part of " a very interesting, but not at all heroic, job He has been employed by Shor: Brothers for about four years, first as demonstration pilot, then operating the Southend-Rochester service. ♦ and for over a year as assistant test pilot to Mr Parker. Before joining the company he served a short service commission in the Royal Air Force, for two years of which he was a flying instructor. He was also instructor tc the Gravesend Aero Club for a time. His England-Australia flighty was made about a year after he ioined the Air Force

TOO BUSY FOR A LONG FLIGHT He is unfeignedly keen on his job. " I like this work as well as anything 1 know, and I"m likely to stay as lone as they'll have me," he said. He is anxious to make a flight to New Zealand, but sees no possibility of doing so at present, as there is too much work in hand. In addition to the Mayo composite and the Empire flying boats which are= being turned •out at the amazing rate of one a fortnight the company has a great many other orders under way, including many military machines. In spite of the varied flying involved in the testing of such a large output. Mr Piper has never yet crashed a machine. He is unmarried and lives in a flat at Strood, just across the Medway from Rochester.