Motorless Aeroplane.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1922, Page 1

Motorless Aeroplane.

RISING FROM TOE WATERGLEN CURTIS’S PREDICTION. SAN FRANCISCO, September 1. An American motqvlqss qeroplane. capable of rising from and alighting upon the water, has been completed, and ynll shortly be put through a series, of tests, which, if successful, will far outdo anything in the gliding line where the flyers start from mountain tops, Glen Curtis, pioneer in the flying world, stated in New York, when notified of tfie exploits in Germany and other European countries recently. After commenting upon the achievements at Gersfield, where a German airman remained aloft two hours and ten seconds in a motorless ’plane, Curtiss said he expected shortly to demonstrate a glider in which the pilot literally lifted himself by the lootstraps” from the surface of the sea, instead of starting down a mountainside . Motorless flight, as demonstrated in gliding tests in the Rhine Valley, is not only an interesting but a most useful development in the realm of aviation,” the American pioneer aeronaut said. “But while this is mighty good sport, the real test comes when a man tries to get his ’plane, without any mechanical motive power, up off a level stretch such as the surface of tho sea. “If gliders without motive power .can remain aloft two hours on a rising current upon the mountain side it encourages us to believe we may yet learn to soar like tlie albatross over the ocean.

“It is this kind of soaring flight in which lam particularly interested, having just completed a motorless ’plane to start from and alight upon tfie water. The other line of progress which may be advanced as a result of glider practice, is the development of a low-powered and efficient aeroplane in which tlie motive power may be an engine of five or ten horse-power, minimising cost of ’planes and popularising aviation in general.” NEW TYPE OF SEAPLANE. Tlie United States N nvy is intensely interested in any evolution of the hydroplane and a new type of seaplane. which is almost capable of fly-' ing without a pilot has been delivered to the Naw Department in Washington.

The ’plane, designed for the training of student aviators, combines safety features never before equalled in aircraft, it is claimed, with qualities of speed and manoeuvre ability. This new 'plane recently made a successful 700-niilc flight from the factory at Ogdenburg, in the State of New York. . “In testing the ’plane for stability, tlie pilot released tlie controls, taking bis bands and feet off tliem,” said Commander T. G. Ellysen, of the Washington Bureau of Aeronautics, who took the craft to Washington. “The throttle was cut to low speed and the ’plane went into a long glide. He then speeded up tile engine and

still without the controls being touched the ’piano levelled off and continued in normal flight, making about sixty knots. “Finally the engine was speeded up with the throttle wide open. The ’plane began to climb, and in so doing her speed was cut to about forty knots. She fell off on one wing, and dived until a speed of 100 knots was registered, when the ’plane again levelled off in normal flight. During the entire demonstration the pilot, Lieutenant Nielson, did not touch the control with either his feet or his hands.” The ’plaqe will be known as the Huff-Navy-HNI.