AVIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3609, 15 May 1923, Page 21

AVIATION.

HEL l COPTER EXPERIMENTS. TWO SUCCESSFUL FLIGHTS. LONDON, May 5. At Etienne M. Olclmichen, the French engineer, again flew his helicopter, completing a circle of 120 metres at a height of two metres, enabling it to clear ground obstacles. The machine is fitted -with four sustaining propellers, four revolution propellers, one direction propeller, a gyroscope for stability, and 120 h.p. motor. The inventor, M. Pescara, afterwards circled his helicopter 60 metres. These are the first two circular flights. A SIXPENNY RIDE. LONDON, May 7. Georges Barbot successfully crossed the Channel in a glider. He leit Saint Ingievert at 5.20, and landed at Lympne at 6.21. He made a good passage, despite contrary winds, and returned safely. The double passage across the Charnel was not strictly gliding. It was really an effort to win the Matin's 25,000 francs prize for demonstrating the possibilities of cheap flying. His monoplane was light enough to be picked up bv the tail and pushed along single-handed. It was equipped with a 15 h.p. engine. It is understood that Barbot used only four litres of petrol on the journey, chiefly for climbing and seeking favourable wind currents. The monoplane was really an air yacht. The aviator sat on the hull, with fixed, birJlike wings, one at each side. At the rear of the hull were controlling planes for steering to and fro and from side to side. Barbot commenced by rising to 5000 ft. When he found the wind he switched oft the engine, and sailed through the air. When he lost the wind he switched on his motor, and searched for the wind. At times he got along with only four horse-power, which is about tliat of a motor cycle. Barbot says that his monoplane cost £7O, and the petrol for the double journey 6d. WIRELESS CONTROLLED AEROPLANES. LONDON, May 11. The Daily Chronicle states that secret plans are being evolved for a wirelesslycontrolled, pilotless flight across the Atlantic. British and American experts are engaged on the details. They propose to send in the first place a machine, a mlie high, from the American coast, and direct it towards Europe like a projectile trom a gun. A feature of the scheme will be a mid-Atlantic wireless beacon projecting powerful waves of energy, which will attract the machine. Relay ships between America and Europe with special wireless plants will also send out directional power to the machine, which will fly at an invisible height. PRIZE FOR CHEAP FLIGHT. LONDON, April 25. A prize of £IOOO has been offered oy the Dailv Mail for the longest flight by aeroplane with a 7j h.p. engine and one gallon of fuel. The flight must be not less than 50 miles, and the competi tion, which is open to all nationalities, must be held in England in September. A second prize of £SOO has been offered by the Duke of Sutherland to Britishers only. H KLKJOPTER COM PET ITIG N. LONDON, May 10. The Air Ministry has issued the conditions in connection with the prize of £50,000 for the helicopter competition. The machine must rise straight, into the air, fly horizontally in any direction, and descend vertically into a restricted space. The requirements are that the machine must rise and descend 2000 ft in a fivemiles’ wind and also in a five to 20-miles' wind. A vertical ascent of 2000 It must also be made, and the machine must remain hovering for half an hour. It must also fly in a circuit of 20 miles at a speed of 60 miles per hour. Lastly, it must manoeuvre over a given point, then shut off the engine for a descent from 5000 ft into an area of 100 ft. The prize will be divided as follows: —£5000 for the straight-up ascent and descent, £15,000 for hovering, £20,000 for the circular flight, and £IO,OOO for the descent without the engine. In addition to the pilot, the helicopter must carry petrol for an hour’s flight and a load of 1501 b. Several machines iiave already been designed, one having great revolving vanes driven an engine of 1000 horse power.