A Wellington Aeroplane.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14274, 13 August 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Wellington Aeroplane.

TO BE TRIED THIS WEEK. -, 1 ,^7 1 ? s wee k an ingeniously constructed Wellington aeroplane is to undergo a trial. This machine, which a ••liiT.es ' representative had an opportunity of inspecting, is free from anv freak ideas, and, barring accidents, tha trial promises at least a flight of sufficient distance to indicate that success is within reach of the inventor. In a quiet workshop within fifteen minutes' walk of the General Post Ofiice Wellington's iirst Hying machine is nearing completion. It "is a monoplane of a type winch is in one respect a compromise with a biplane, by virtue of a couple of small auxiliarv planes placed beneath the main plane at about the distance that the lower plane of a biplane is .situated.

The AYellington inventor quoted figures involving plane areas and horsepower to convince tlie sceptic that his machine is more than able to pro]*! itself through the a.ir. There are other considerations to be reckoned with, including the control of the machine when it is on the wintr Many nasty accidents have occurred while wheeling to right or left in mid-air If the aeroplane wheels to the left tile lett wing travels slower than the rhdit one: therefore as the planes arc sustained in the air by the sneed t*oy pass through it. there is an inclination of tne machine to sink on the left side and rise on the opposite side. This contingency inventors have considered by reducing the plane area of either side or increasing it at will, or bv altering the angle or resistance of the planes. The V.'ellington machine dupends in this matter upon small Haps at the rear end of the main place, and by a patent tail which the inventor places implicit trust in. The aeroplane resembles a huge horse-fly. with its body used as flic tail of'the machine, and the propeller at the head. The rudder is attached to the end of the tail, but instead of protruding backwards it points forward. the inventor believes, will give greater stability to tlie machine when it is turning. The backbone leading to the rudder has a horizontal piano strip placed slighttly above a long vertical plane. The inventor states that when the machine is turning the air strikes against the vertical tail strip, and in a state of compression squeezes oyer it and acts as a. lifting force upon half of the surface of the. horizontal strip. This action, he claims, will prevent a capsize. For raising or depressing the monoplane the inventor uses the two supplementary wings or planes previously mentioned. They can also he used as a very effective brake when the machine alights, by raising tlie rear edge of the wings up towards the main plane, and thus forming a Y-shaped funnel.

A valuable point in the now machine is tbat the aviator can start tlio propeller without an assistant, and from his scat in tlic aeroplane. The motor is of 25 horse-power, built for aeroplane use bv an English firm. Tt has four cylinders, and the two-blade propeller, which project? slightly in front of the machine, measures 6ft (Vm from tip to tip. It is constructed of ash and cedar laminated. The aviator sits in a comfortable boat-like car underneath the main plane, relatively about the same distance from the too plane as in a Wright binlnne. 3.1". Blerint. the Frenchman who first flew the English channel, sits with his head and bodyabove the surface of his main pianos, but there is greater safety in having the centre of gravity lower. Nilthough extreme lowness is also objectionable. The frame is constructed of spruce with aluminium eastings, trussed with tinned piano wire in the most approved aeroplane style, which makes for a maximum of rigidity with a minimum of weight. The frame is being covered

with Japanese vegetable silk. The 'monoplane measures 22ft from nose to tip of the. tail, and 25it across from edge to edge of the main plane. The main plane tapers from Oft to ahont Sfi', with :".n area of .'540 squaro feet, and the two supplefnentary wings under ilia main piano each monsurp. 22 i'juare feet. The complete flying machine, scales 4501b. The two petrol ryiiuders. ea/di with a en parity of four

gallons, are placed on tlv "roof" or <m top of the main plane, in order to give

!■■ gravity feed to the motor. Tlie machine is mounted on motor '■•:< vile wheels, and can be steered quite t*:is;ly as it- is pushed '.dim;; the ground. The hivev.lor ■■; des'rous or concealing his identity until the machine has com;>U>!:ed a satisfactory tri;d. Then a test 'vsll bo »iveii, for which invitations will be issued. The machine is a fine example of local industry, all parts having been n::uiut!'c-tu;vcl by the inventor, excepting tiie motor.