AEROPLANE THAT HOVERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3853, 17 January 1928, Page 14

AEROPLANE THAT HOVERS.

THE NEW “ HELICOGYRE.”

AIR MINISTRY EUYS PLANS.

LONDON, November 30

Plans of a remarkable man-carrying machine called the “Helicogyre” have been acquired by the Air Ministry (says the correspondent of the Daily Chronicle). One of the chief features claimed for it is that it will be able to hover motionless in mid-air.

Its inventor is an Italian engineer, Signor Vittorio Isacco. who has devoted many years to the study of vertical flight, and who co-operated with the Spanish scientist, Raoul de Pescara, in a series of experiments with helicopters. The basis of the machine which Signor Isacco has now evolved is a system of power-driven rotating wings. Round a central metal column are arranged a series of curved sustaining surfaces which have tiny engines and air-screws mounted in them. These miniature power plants, when they are set going, cause the lifting wings to which they are attached to spin round and round the shaft. NO RISK OF ABRUPT DESCENT.

As a result a vertical pull is exercised, which draws the machine and its occupants straight up into the air. The speed of rotation of the wings can be governed by the pilot, and he can adjust them so that he comes to a standstill and hovers at any point in the air. A separate and more powerful engine, coupled to an ordinary aeroplane propeller, provides the means for rapid horizontal movement. An advantage of this “ helicogyre ” system is, it is claimed, that in the case of failure of any one of the small engines driving the supporting vanes ,the other little power plants, still functioning, would maintain rotation and prevent any risk of an abrupt descent.