AEROPLANE ON VIEW.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1080, 20 March 1911, Page 2

AEROPLANE ON VIEW.

MR. SCHAEF'S INVENTION. Mnny people strolled into Adams's rooms in Mercer Street on Saturday afternoon and evening to see Mr. Sehaef's aeroplane. This machine is claimed to bo tlic first New Zealand aeroplane with which flight has actually been accomplished. It is Mr. Schaef's Own design, though it resembles a Bleriot monoplane. The inventor, who is a local iihotographer, has devoted all his holidays, spare time, and available cash during the last two years to perfecting tho Uyinj* machine, doing much of tho manual work himself, and testing'pattern after pattern for various parts., The power comes from an aeromotor by Mr. Percy Fisher, which is stated to develop 25 to 30 horse-power with a weight of 1401b., comparing favourably with English, Continental, and European aeroplane motors. It was plain'that tho spectators on Saturday lelt the unique interest of the occasion. Engineers and craftsmen made very favourable comments on the machine, which they examined closely. Brief explanatory lectures were given, and the motor was set going at intervals. It was a weird sight, with sound to correspond, when tho two-blaijed wooden propeller assumed tho appearance of a huge round'biscuit, then a uale transparent blur, aiid thou tho lightest, almost invisible, yellowishbrown transparent mist. Tho aeroplano being firmly moored, tho propeller could move nothing but tho air. Tho consequence was n. wind which nearly Miw tho gas out. Mr. Sshacf, who was personally in charge, received many congratulations.