AUTOGYRO
MASTERY OF T HE AIR
BRITISH EXPERTS APPLAUD INVENTION
GREATEST ADVANCE SINCE. WEIGHT BROS.’ DISCOVERY.
By Telegraph—Per Press Assn. —Copyright, Received Oct. 23, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 23. Don Juan De La Cierva, lectured before the Royal Aeronautical Society on the Autogyro. Sir Sefton Brancker declared that both he and the Air Minister agreed that the Autogyro was the most important step in aerodynamic progress since Wright Brothers proved ability to fly by means of an internal combustion engine. Mr. Wimpers, Director of the Scientific Development in the Air Ministry, said that from a scientific standpoint the Autogyro was the most wonderful invention in aeronautical engineering during any living person’s lifetime. Its service to civil and military aviation would depend upon the load it could carry in proportion to the machine’s weight. Tests were being conducted in Britain to investigate this point, but De La Cierva’s machine was the property of the Spanish Government. (Don Juan La Cievas, interviewed, said: “I have been engaged in aeronautical research for fifteen years. I first conceived the Autogyro in 1920, when I came to the conclusion that it was essential to build a machine which could descend safely after engine failure, and land even on a housetop. I uilt six machines, but only in the fourth did 1 hit the idea of adding articulated blades to the lifting windmill, which gave automatic stability. I believe my method will eventually re.place all others, because it allows higher speed and higher climbing with safety, and makes flying much easier. I calculate that the Autogyro, with the power resistance of a Bernard monoplane, will do 310 miles an hour at full speed, and have a landing speed of 137 miles an hour.' The Autogyro will be scarcely affected by air disturbances due to gusty wind.” Above the fuselage is a windmill of four articulated blades, which rise and fall as they turn. Rotation is caused by air pressure, not by engine power, tho engine being entirely unconnected with the windmill. Since the Autogyro is stable, its control is simpler than the ordinary aeroplane. It can bo flown with rudders and elevators alone though tho experimental machine provided a lower spar as a precaution. If the engine stops when the machine is at a great height its weight is supported by the reveolving windmill, and is lowered gently to the ground.).
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19437, 24 October 1925, Page 7
Word Count
395AUTOGYRO Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19437, 24 October 1925, Page 7
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