SELF-BALANCING AEROPLANE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1633, 27 December 1912, Page 7

SELF-BALANCING AEROPLANE.

h MELBOUENID MAN'S INVENTION.\,. -. A i working, model of aii automatic bal--■•ancing aeroplane . has .>, been invented aud "has been patented in all the principal ' countries of the ; : world, including .U.5.A.,..by Mr. G. B, Wl. Austin, architect, of. Melbourne. That gentleman has. been'experimenting and devising this idea for seme four years, which is now put into-concrete shape, and a quarter full size-model is now being constructed by. eons of'Mr ..Austin, at a factory in.-Brigh-:t'on, and will-be ipnt.on its' practical trials early-in'the coming year. ~ i_ It is claimed:for this mabhine that it' 'introduces absolutely novel, and ingenious' feature's, and overcomes defects in present, aeroplanes, as it will fly .in all wea'-. thers. Without', the possibility of capsizing, andnt the same time ensures "perfect qomfort and safety, in landing of passengers, and is'a revelation in themclhod of steering. All controls are duplicate, having, two engines and two propellers. The car is so hung as to swing, always remaining with level platform, and at the some time governs cables that control the balancers or. ailerons. This gives a low. centre of gravity; and the'machine, when descending, acts on the parachute, principle. .:. As the weight of the engines, and ■passengers is placed-on the car .no varia-' We air gusts can possibly overturn the machine. '

The chassis is on a new and ingenious method, .that .will-land passengers with the least possible jar. The'planes, are ,so .formed as.;: to give the maximum strength, being constructed on the girder principle, in sections or boxes, with front orifices-twice tkq sizo"of "rear openings. These ; have automatic shutters that re-' lease air; as' required Under, various head pressures. ' These'planes act as air compressors, gripping and solidifying the air during, flights' in- a better manner : than is pqssibla by present planes, and, will sustain and lift a greater weight. '■ For military purposes, tho give an uninterrupted view, and a steady platform for machine Runs. The pilot's responsibility will'be lessened, as the machine, being automatic, will act more quickly and do the work more accurately than at present it is possible ,for a man to perform it.. His responsibility will; it is claimed, be restricted ■to steering, 1 elevating, landing, and attending to control of engines, and will hot' depend upon the skilful balancing of the aviator.. The machine has been carefrilly 'designed and worked out, embodying only well-known principles that govern and control flight, at the Same time providing a_much stronger structure to stand great wind pressures, and is admirably adapted, when provided, with floats, to act as an aero-hydroplane. Leading engineers and aviators who have inspected this machine predict that this design.is on the lines of tho future machinery, and will prove faster and safer than present models. If so. for coastal defence of - Australia it will be most valuable. Mr. Austin is an Australian by birth. He visit»d England some, five years ago, when lie began his studies at the first aero exhibition.—"Argus." , ■