AVIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3510, 21 June 1921, Page 41

AVIATION.

NEW PULSATING WING. REVOLUTIONISING AUSTRIAN INVENTION. (Frou Ouh Own Correspondent.) LONDON, April 21. A vista so wonderful ihat our whole rott* ception of 1 lie place of aircraft in the scheme of transport may have to be altered. Such is the promise of the new "pulsating” wing of the Austrian scientist. Professor Raimund | Nimfulir. It is explained that the theory on which the professor lias been working is that we should concentrate attention on the propulsive methods of birds and insects. Aeroplanes with fixed, wings and an engine drivi ing a propeller con, according to this line of research, be shown vastly inferior in reia- | five performance to either a bird or on 1 insect. If one could take o. bird like an albatross and increase it in size till it waa i as big as a medium-sized presen!-day biplane, I it would, it is claimed, exert net move than j tho equivalent of about 10-h.p. in propulsion, whereas the biplane would require about : 200-h.p. A giant gnat, big as an aeroplane, 1 it is averred, would-fly with infinitely loss exertion of power than is requii-cd for any of our existing machines. ‘ IMITATING NATURE. The Nimfuhr principle is to imitate I machanically, so far as this is possible, the i methods of Nature, in the wings of biida and insects. The Nimfuhr “pulsating wing” ' relies upon an extraordinarily rapid vibrating or stroke action upon the cu-hion of compressed air which in flight is formed beneath* a sustaining plane. The actual Nimfuhr wing, as constructed for a full-sized machine, will, it is understood, be hollow, with f* flexible membrane on the under-side. By pneumatic mechanism this membrane is set# pulsating or vibrating with such rapidity that waves of atmospheric pressure are generated which shall, it is intended, not only* ; sustain but also propel the machine. Air* I screws will, in fact, be eliminated. AUTOMATIC STABILISER. There is also a system whereby the ext re* mities of the wings can be extended or contracted by pneumatic action to produce results such as are obtained by birds in stretchiug or folding their wings. Another feature is an automatic stabiliser, in which disturbances of balance set in motion levers which, actuated by small motors, counteract by their movement of the wings any tendency of tho machine to lose its equilibrium. Experts are looking forward to the building of ‘the fullsized machines on this principle. It is only by construction and operation that the mechanical problems of such a wing and the question of the weight of gear require ! in achieving intricate movements can he sclved. If Professor Nimfuhr’s claims are substantiated in large-scale work—and soaring tests have already been made and pulsating wings of some size j satisfactorily-—it is calculated that a tr;ns-ooe*an craft built on this principle and carrying several liunrlred people would !>o . so economical in power that passengers could jbe carried by air between Europe and America cheaper than in a steamship. ; Following the formation of the original ! syndicate in Holland, a Paris financial I g r °up bid for patent rights. Now news is | to hand that a. powerful American svndicate, ; negotiating direct with Professor Nimlithr s office in Vienna, lias eclipsed all j rivals, with the result that the professor, accompanied by his assistant, Engineer Gazda, is about to visit the United States to superintend the construction of full-sized machines embodying his principle. PULLMANS OF THE AIR. A fleet of the most luxurious a r v,planes in the world are now travelling between. London and Copenhagen. These machines, which are operated by the State-aided ! Royal Dutch Air Service Company, represent the last word of comfort in’ tlie air. Each passenger site in a softly-cushioned armchair, with well-sprung arm rests, while in trout of him is a small, convenient wilting table which, when not in use, folds • against the side of the machine. This "fly. | iug Pullman” is gay with mirrors, satinwood panels, and flower vases, and it is churned that air travel in such a machine I will ba infinitely more comfortable, and i vastly less fatiguing, than trawl m a firstj class railway coach. One cf ilacc “air exprevises ” leaves London eve: morning. It halts at Rotterdam for 13 n mutes \i sot down passengers, and ti cn continues its flight to Amsterdam, arriving at 2.5 p.m. The fare for the journey from London is ten guineas. Air connections between Amsterdam and Copenhagen are provided, the through fare being £54 Os. FREIGHT CARRYING iIACHINES All entirely new type of m. chine, in which weight-carrying capacity rather than high speed is aimed at, is n v under construction for the Air Ministry by the Bristol Company. it is dosign< d to carry 2'. tons of freight, and will he fitted with four engines, each developing 24.0 h.n. As aeroplanes go, it- will be slow, although very much faster than any other means oi transpor . It has ; been named " The Tramp," and may ba regarded as tbs first air pantechnicon. HELICOPTER EX PE RIM ENTS. The Aero Club of France is offering a prize of 25,000 franca i, normally £1000) lo tho pilot of tlic- first helicopter which mounts vertically through an imaginary cylinder Soft Jus’ll and descends on tic- same spot. A helicopter is an aeroplane that ascends and descends without a ground run. The best ascent hitherto has been 13ft.