AIR FORCE QUEEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 123, 28 May 1941, Page 4

AIR FORCE QUEEN

MODEL MONOPLANE BUILT HISTORIC PARTS USED Parts of historic aircraft, have gone into the construction of a model aeroplane which will be suspended above the doorway of the old post office, where the Air Force Queen in the Wanganui Patriotic Queen Carnival has her headquarters. Less than a week nas elapsed since the builder of the model, Mr. F Hackett, of Hackett Motors, St. Hill Street, was asked to construct an aeroplane suitable for the purpose intended. In the short space of a few days, however, the model is almost ready and by the end of the week will be completed. 4 he model does not represent any particular design of aircralt and is not intended to fly. 11 has taken the shape of a single-seater monoplane, and when ready will be hoisted above the entrance of the old post office, with its nose pointed downward, representing a dive bomber. Tail flaps which were once part of the Avro machine in which the late Mr. C. T. P. Ulm learn to fly, form port and starboard wings of the model, and the fuselage is made up from an Autin-Whippet, flown in Wanganui on several occasions by Mr. Paul Bennett and others.

Ulm accompanied Sir Charles Kingsford Smith as navigator on the first Hight across the Tasman in the Southern Cross, in September, 1223. They landed at Christchurch, but at this stage of his career Ulm had not learnt to fly. While in New Zealand, however, he took lessons in an Avro which was a relic of the Great War days, but still serviceable. Parts of the machine found their way to Wanganui after the Avro was dismantled, and an aircraft used tor instructional purposes in the last war is now helping, in part, with the patriotic efforts of another war. Mr. Hackett hits made rapid progress with the task of assembling the model. Fuselage and wings are in position, and when completed the machine will be a realistic dive bomber which will attract considerable attention and be of assistance to the Air Force Queen in her campaign. Its association with the Great War gives the model added interest. The machine from which the fuselage is made up was last flown five or six years ago. ft was this aircraft that caused a sensation in Wanganui about 10 years ago, when Captain Braik made a test flight. The aeroplane had just been assembled, and had not been flown previously. Thousands of people gathered on Saturday afternoon to watch the aviator take off on what was considered a hazardous flight. Caplani Braik, however, was an expert pilot and after taking off climbed to a good height, subsequently landing safely.