THE AERIAL REALM.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1923, Page 1

THE AERIAL REALM.

O.STRANGE DEVELOPMENTS. Strange new developments are foreshadowed in the August number of “Flight,” by Mr j. ,J. Eland, of Appleby, Westmoreland, who has been experimenting in the direction of driving airships and aeroploncs by means of electricity collected by them from the atmosphere. “I have been requested by a. few friends who are keenly interested in aviation,” writes Mr Bland, “to give you a short account of my experiments, carried out during the past two years. During this time my pet theory has been the utilisation of electricity from the air, and until about a month ago I thought T was practically the solo worker in this field, and then I read an article in the ‘Wireless Review,’ regarding the experiments of Herr Plansen, who had also succeeded in this direction. The main difference between his scheme and mine lies in the design of the special transformers and motors. “J think I may claim to have gone a. ste'p further than Herr Plauseii, as I have succeeded in utilising the idea in regard to aircraft, at least in a small way. •‘Naturally these experiments have only been carried nut on models. 1 may here state that since disaster overtook my last model, due to the inquisitive nature of my young boy. ] have shelved the experiments, as f found that without financial assistance I could not keep going, at least to have further models built and tested as T required them to he. The experiments have all been conducted on model airships. although I had hoped later to equip a model acropjane with the same idea. Referring to the idea as carried through on model airships the usual fabric covering was replaced bv very light metallic covering. On this were mounted small streamlined spikes, these

acting ;is collectors. From the metallic jj;as container, which, by the way. is well insulated from any other part of the framework, or ship, a flexible conductor is led to the transformers and from these to the motors, COLLECTING ELECTRICITY. “In this brief description I shall not co into details of the special transformer used, as it would require special drawings to illustrate it fully, although it is only a small transformer working in conjunction with light condensers, The whole apparatus is very fight, in fact much lighter than 1 first anticipated. When at a good height, the running of the motor is pretty steady, but it falls off as it descends, while at ground level it stops altogether. On certain days the running of the motor was slightly erraetic; the steady running depending upon the state of the atmosphere. Naturally that ean be got over by using very light accumulators, and this was to have been doiie in a later model. The idea

was io rise above 1000 loot under power taken from accumulators, for at this height sufficient electricity can be collected to work the motor satistactorily, and also recharge accumulators. In a full-sized machine the motors would take their enrent from the accumulators and so ensure steady running, the electricity collected being used to keep the accumulators fully charged. One of the greatest troubles was the installation of the gear to switch oil' the motor and release the gas for descending. This hail to he done, as there was no other means of getting the model down from any descent height. The ,gear had to he “time” set. The model was always set to travel in circles, so its to prevent it travelling any distance away. As the speed was low, 1 was tumble to state whether sufficient electricity would he collected at high speeds, hut as Herr I’leitsen’s idea seems to work itll right in pretty high winds, J. see no reason why aircraft should not do Lite same. As far as the experiments have gone, the results have been so satisfactory that I got out details foist th lighter and heavier than air craft.