AERO SAFETY DEVICES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1925, Page 1

AERO SAFETY DEVICES

A t'TO-M ATI (' PAKACTIUTE. LONDON, October 7. A novel safety siorttjilst n<?. lilted with air brakes and a device which, in an emergency, automatically snatches the pilot from his seat and lowers him. tn the ground, has been constructed by Signor Pietro Magni. ihe Italian aeronautical engineer. The machine, which has been flown successfully. is really a monoplane, bill there are two small auxiliary wing? below the main plane. When the pilot is landing in a small space, lie move? a lever which rotates these wings unti they press lint against the air and sr rapidly chock the machine’s motion A form of air brake working on : similar principle was fitted to the Sop with '■ one-and-n-half strutter” aero planes. The other salety device on tilt Magni monoplane is extremely ingeni ons. On an emergency such as a col lision in tlie air, the pilot pulls a han die. His belt is released instantly, am a parachute is ejected automatically from a recess in the fuselage bohim him. The wind, suddenly pressing into the parachute, causes it to whii the airman from his seat and he i: then floated safely to earth. According to the French tecliniea reports, this ” safety first " aircraf

has a win a; span ol 20.2 fool a length of 7.2 feet ami a height ot 7.11 loot. The wing loading is 8.411.) per square foot, and the useful load is 2821 b ANTI-STALL GEAR. Another safety device which it. is claimed acts as a mechanical sixth sense to the pilot, was demonstrated at Hendon aerodrome this week. The apparatus is called the Savngellronifion “anti-stall ” gear. When the aeroplane is approaching its “stalling’’

speed (i.e.j the speed nt which it ''ill fall), the "anti-stall” gear iogs the

pilot’s memory by yci\tny: the control _ stick a forward push. Thus the pilot is, warned of the approaching danger an is able to anticipate it.

A representatives of Lloyd’s has testel the goal' in the air, and, as a result, aircraft fitted with the gear are to tie given ” special consideration in respect of insurance.” Pilots from Imperial Airways also have tried the device, and the Air Ministry lias placed an order. The apparatus consists of a floating vane pivoted oti a bracket attached to one of the interplane struts. This vane in effect measures the angles at which the aeroplane is “ attacking ” the air. When the angle becomes dangerously great the vane moves and operates a compressed-air apparatus which, in turn, pushes forward the control stick.

At present, after engine failure in an ordinary machine, the pilot s attention may he entirely occupied in looking for an emergency landing ground. He may fail to notice that the machine's speed has fallen dangerously

low. The result will he a a stall,” followed by a sudden earthward plunge of the machine. Many serious accidents have occurred in this way. weighing about two pounds to the horse-power. It will have, he said, all of the economical characteristics of an-

tomobilc motors. The manufacturer stated that the now motor would he thoroughly tested in an aeroplane within a short time. “The motor-ear has mixed people up so thoroughly you cannot fool any American about' any part of his country.” he said : “But- they are still fooled about other parts of the world. The aeroplane will stop that. Wien the aeroplane becomes general it will put power into people’s hands just as the motorcar has. and when international financiers or politicians propose a war, the people will ask why.”