HIGH-SPEED AIRCRAFT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 9

HIGH-SPEED AIRCRAFT

BRITISH RESEARCH CONSTRUCTION OF PLANES : British Wireless —Press Assn. — Copyright RUGBY, Friday. i In reply to a question asked in the House of Commons, Sir Philip Sassoon, Under-Secretary for Air. said seven high-speed aircraft were built this year. Six of these were made .n ailable for the Schneider Cup race. They were constructed for the purpose of carrying out an important programme of research into the problems of high-speed flight. Valuable data bearing on the problem of the soaring speed of aircraft had already been seI cured with these machines. —A. and N.Z. GIANTS OF SKIES QUESTION OF SAFETY MENTION IN THE HOUSE RUGBY, Friday. When questioned in the House of Commons regarding the airship RIOO. which is now under construction by a private firm for the Government, Sir Philip Sassoon, Under-Secretary for Air, said it did not appear likely that the total fixed weight of the airship, including the passenger car and fittings, would exceed the contract figures of 90 fonts. Two scientists who were investigating the airworthiness of the two airships now being built could not complete their investigations of RIOO for some months, but so far it appeared that the factors of safety laid down in the report of the Airworthiness of Airships Board had been fullv adhered to. !«—A. and N.Z. SEAPLANE DAMAGED COBHAM’S MALTA MISHAP RUGBY, Friday . In the Yiouse of Commons, in reply to a question regarding the damage to Sir Alan CJobham’s seaplane at Malta during his proposed round-Africa High . Sir Philip Sassoon, Under-Secretary for Air, said a pair of wing-tip floats were carried away by the swell during landing. The port elevator and the lower pilot plane were damaged by a heavy sea while the machine was being launched. These parts were being renewed with as little delay as possible.—A. and N.Z.

FLIERS ARRESTED PROMPT ACTION BY TURKS PARIS, Friday. It is reported that Colonel Antionat and his five companions, who are Dying from Paris to Hanoi, French Indochina, have been arrested at Adalla, Asia Minor, for allegedly flying over Turkish territory without permission. —A. and N.Z.-Sun. ALTITUDE RECORD TURIN, Friday. The aviator Qonati reached a height of 38,802 ft in an officially supervised flight. This is claimed to be a world’s record.—A. and N.Z.-Sun.