Auckland Man’s Device For Marking Crashed Aircraft

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 December 1948, Page 4

Auckland Man’s Device For Marking Crashed Aircraft

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA).— Plans for a marking device for crashed aircraft, similar to that submitted recently by a Wellington man to the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr. Nash), were sent to Air Department officials over six years ago by Mr. W. Barringer, ot Grey Lynn. He has revived his invention following the Kaka disaster and the recent Air Force crash in the Ruahines. Mr. Barringer said today that his apparatus would be housed in a hatch near the tail of the plane, where it would have the least chance of catching fire. On an aircraft crashing, a brightly-coloured rubber balloon, 30ft. land and 14 inches in diameter, attached to several hundred yards of steel wire anchored to the plane, would be released automatically when the impact occurred. Inflation of the balloon would be controlled by a small steel ball, normally held in place bv adjustable springs, which would fall down a cylinder when a heavy impact took place, the ball would open the hatch and also strike the tap of the gas cylinder, thus inflating the balloon. Another invention designed bv Mr. Barringer for marking crashed aircraft is a high-frequency radio set which would send continuous signals in flight, the signals stopping when the aircraft landed, or crashed. Mr. Barringer has sent an explanation of the invention to Mr. Nash.