THE AUCKLAND BI-PLANE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1083, 23 March 1911, Page 4

THE AUCKLAND 81-PLANE.

6 1 ■■ 1 ■ ■ AM ASCENT AND A FALL; (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, March 22.,.* Aviation is making rapid strides in New Zealand, and at no distant date Aucklandurs will have the .opportunity of seeing tlio flyiug men at work. The pioneers in Auckland are the Auckland Aeroplane Syndicate, and it was with a view t« seeing how far they have advanced in their work that a reporter visited Papakura this morning to witness the syndicate biplane in flight. The Manurewa is tho name of tho machine, signifying "floating bird," and one gains the impression that tho name should bo fitting alter taking a first glance at the machine in the half light of the early morning. At 5.30 a.m. a start was made to send the aeroplano tip in flight. Every wire was strained, making tho "tone" in accord throughout, and the pilot (Mr. V. Walsh) then took bis scat. The engine was started, and the two-bladed si.vfoot propeller was sent revolving: at such a specil that left only a blur to lie somi. The huge flying bird was then started rolling up anil down a field, giving the pilot timo to get accustomed to his work. Up and down went tho machine, gaining momentum, a lid. hopping oil' the ground at intervals, taking leaps that made her cover distances varying from 20ft. to SOft. This was not (lying, however, but of n sudden the gentlo hum of the engines seemed to ecase, and up and up rofo the white mass until it was poised dOft. in the air. It was magnificent, but tho acclamations of wonder soon ccased. A pocket of wind had caught and tilted the plane until tho maeluiitt was nearly vertical. The tail was down, and tho aeroplane rapidly fell, striking the ground with an incline to the left, Everything stopped suddenly, but fortnliately the shock was taken in a degreo by tiio skids, and tho machine righted. The fall had caused somo damage, such as a few broken streamers and struts ia the under section. The pilot had not been dislodged. No material damago having been done, preparations were at ouco started to make repairs to enable another exhibition to be given.