CONSTRUCTION OF 'PLANES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16320, 2 January 1924, Page 8

CONSTRUCTION OF 'PLANES.

EXPERIMENTAL STATION,

MECHANICS FOIR SYDNEY.

MELBOURNE, Dec, 20.—Tho Defence authorities nre transferring 20 Air Force mechanics' from Point Cook to carry out experiments in aeroplane construction at what was formerly Father Shaw's wireless workshops at Randwiek, but which latterly has been used by the Navy Department for the manufacture of wireless outfits.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced by tho Air Force in persuading engineering firms to tender for making single aeroplane parts from drawings, as ■modifications, of parts of tho Royal Air Forco machines have been found necessary owing to tho difference in Australian conditions.

' An experimental section where modifications arid improvements may be thoroughly tested and tried out has long been necessary, so thai when designs have been approved orders <uoujd bo given to engineers for tho number of parts required.

, The experimental branch will probably bo in charge of Squadron-leader L. J. Wackett, D.K.0., a Duntroon graduate, who has designed some notable improvements in aeroplane equipment and whose youthful passion for invention and experiments has become almost legendary at Duntroon Military College.