AERIAL NAVIGATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 27

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

PARIS,. March 24. TheTe are 500 pupils in the Aviation School at Chalons. WELLINGTON RESIDENT'S INVENTION. WELLINGTON,, March 24. Some months ago a mild sensation was created here by the report of secret trials of an aeroplane in the early norning on the Basin Reserve. The public was a bit sceptical, but the trials were genuine enough according to a Post representative who saw the machine yesterday. It was in pieces at the time, as fe<v backyards in Wellington are large enough to accommodate a full-sized flying machina. Still, with the help of working drawings and an examination of the various parts it was possible to get a fair 'dea of the aeroplane a? it wnnW be when put together ready for flight. 'n essentials it is ;„ monoplane of the Bleriot tyoe, but it possesses a number of novel features, which olace it really outside the class of ordinary standard machines the appearance of which has become familiar to the public in the last 72 months. The main nlanes on each side and the central frame are not shaped like the Antoinette or the Bleriot, wings projecting far out much like the pinions of a bird or a beetle respectively." The inventor is Mr John . Pecbugin. ■ who is a draughtsman in Cable's fourjdry. The planes of the "machine present the ap"Dearance of an ordinary lozenge-shaped kite, save that the after portion divides like the tail of a swallov*. In the gap Tsetween the two ends is nlaced a steering rudder (vertical*, and on each side of this are tails of the Antoinette type, consisting of horizontal and vertical planes in conjunction. Behind these is a m6vable horizontal Diane, such as is found in the Bleriot machine, for the of depressing or eWating the flight. These, however, are >%. tails which do not show any partciular originality or novelty.

The main uoint of the invention is the " aero suction " tube, which forms the "backbone of the machine. This is quite distinctive. Tt is a long canvas tube, suitably braced, and sustained by an internal frame. At eaen end are fans revolving free on a central axle., and as the machine moves thronerh the air it •will create its own draught through the tnb«,>the fan* *he rate of progress or the strength of the wind. Thf_ nuroose of the tube is this : if the eosino fails-«or stot;s in mid-air ajid-the machine dins to come to ground, the pressure create in the tube .'by the leading fan will tend-to break the descent. providing a safe and ea«v retmm to earthi In addition, the cylindrical , shape of this cental tnbe a<Ws mncb to the strength of the_ backbone of the machine. There are six propellers.' two nairs revolving in oooositp directions on the main axle of the suction tube, and two on a lower pair of axles under the tube The main shaft is driven by chain wearing off the engine shaft, while the lower pronellers are actuated bv sour wheels In addition there is a pair of wincrs flanped by an eccentric off the engine shaft. The driver sits behind all this propelling machinery. The flarroing wings are so adiusted as t-n life the 'machine when necessary, or simoly to act as gliders. The present machine is "oughly and cheaoly constructed, and the motor is a 41 horse-nowe*- four-cylinder motor bicycle engine The inventor, with whom is associated Mr Henry Little, foreman at. Cable's. intends to hold a trial shortly, when the possibilities of, the Pechugin aeroplane will be demonstrated to the public. Th# machine is not sufficiently high-powered to carry a driver yet. and it is with the object of setting a more powerful aeromotor that the constructors are making a nublic test. They are confident of success after three years' experiment and trial.