REMARKABLE ’PLANE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1923, Page 4

REMARKABLE ’PLANE.

( DEAD AND FOOL-DROOF. SYDNEY. September If). A liitie British aeroplane with some ex train'd ilia ry characteristics—it will fly a mile a minute for two hours on one gallon of petrol and is dosciihcd as ■‘.'un|-pron'"’ heeau.-o it will land on rugged siii faces, and so slow ly that only a genile .shock can he experienced —is l:> arrive in Australia ibis week. The “Wren" as ii i„ known, has been built solely for experimental purposes, three having been ordered by the authorities and two being on their way to Australia for use in demonstrations and experiments red for tli e preliminary training of pilots. The Minister for Defence points out ilia! for a!! Ih-e purpose- ihe Wren will be much more economical than the larger machines, a :;d ! ii ■" will also be ti-ol'ul in pioneering a cheap and sale machine, which, if prove la success. would prove invaluable in Australia. The “Wren” is sft high ami 2!fl long. Ire wings cover a span c f 37l’t. bill are instantly d ■: rcliaL'.., ;in 1 1 t lire aeroplane can lie wheeled through a j a- sage 2AI I vide like a pel a in hula i' r. The total weight, including engine, but e."cb ! (hng pih>* is The engine with magnei ■> ■ red fin huretter weighs 3A|h. The ‘'Wren’' was designed for the English » .loot lie Co.. Ltd., by Mr \Y. (). .Manning and const meted in it aircraft works at Dieston. England. i.i the order of the Director of Research. Rri-

fish Air Ministry. The primary object Ims been to determine the minimum power required for mechanical flight, combining lightness of construction with “eleauiie-s" uf design. The

■‘Wren" is fitted with standard A.11.C. air-cooled, (hit twin engine of 393 c.e., a motor cycle type nominally of 3It.p., and specially adapted for aircraft

work. The theory that motor-cycle engines installed in aircraft must be run to their full power is connected by the makers of the '‘Wren", who state that the A.JS.C. engine was designed for a maximum speed of -loOl* r.p.m., hut is limited in the “Wren’' to 2700 r.p.m.. at full power and will My quite satisfactorily at much below these revolutions. Even when run continuously at: full throttle it is subjected to no greater strain than is imposed by tile average motor cyclist, eoli-c----quontly the cooling is more efficient. The ‘AVien” combines the three essentials of the ideal low-powered aeroplane slowness, lightness and cleanness. Its pilot. Hqumlron-hdr. M. E. AWyb.dri, I’.A.F.. has demonstrated that it is extremely simple to fly. takes its correct ‘'bank 1 ' and holds ii under tile action of the rudder only, and an s'.' ci - the controls peilectly. It is stated to lie thoroughly stable. The machine being absolutely controllable, it is srid that it should he almost impossible for a pupil to sustain personal injury, while any damage to an aeroplane of the “Wren" type could be tep,aired or replaced at an insignificant (■sot when compared with that of ordinary machines. A minimum of living skill is required, and owing to the extremely slow landing speed the pilot, in an emergency, would have more time in which to think and act than in the case of a big. faßt-landing machine.