VERTICAL FLYING

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1928, Page 8

VERTICAL FLYING

STANDING STILL IN MID-AIR LONDON, Nov. 5. An aerial problem which fascinates designers is now to have fresh light thrown upon it. It concerns power-driven flying machines which will rise straight up from the ground, hover motionless, aim then come straight down and alight in any small open space or upon the Hat roof of a building. The value of such machines is becoming more apparent every day. Many experts declare that there can ue no really big development of flying until an air machine is produced o the helicopter type, capable of vertical ascents and descents and of standing still in the air.

The problem is fraught ivitli difficulty. Until recently some of them seemed insuperable. But experiments now impending should mark another big stride forward.

Several helicopter machines, though not developed to a final stage, have lifted vertically from the ground remarkably heavy loads having regard to their moderate power. One may take it for granted that the problem of rising straight up is a problem no longer. It has been solved. SUDDEN 1 DESCENT RISKS. So also, to a less positive extent, lias been that of coming straight down under control and of making contact with the ground at a reasonably slow rate of descent. In this direction, however, there are still technical difficulties which must be overcome. With the helicopter employing engine driven vanes, support in the air depends upon the power applied to these vanes. If it is withdrawn suddenly there is a risk of a too-sudden descent.

The danger of any pell-mell fall has already been obviated, in one’or two vertical-flight machines, by a system of ‘de-clutchiug the revolving vanes'in case of engine failure, and of allowing them to spin round freely in Llie air. In this way the rotating system can be made to act as a parachute, checking the rate of descent.

One of the difficulties in helicopter machines is the complication and loss of power which may occur owing to the gearing required for cransiniting power from an engine in the body of the machine to revolving surfaces mounted above.

ENGINES IN VANES

An attempt to overcome this is the feature of a system which, after certain laboratory experiments have been completed, is to be tested in mancarrying machines. Instead or having one centrally placed engine, driving vanes through shafting, the machines will employ several quite small aeroengines.—These will not be placed in the fuselage, but will bo mounted separately in the leading edges of the revolving vanes. Each engine will be coupled to a miniature air-screw of normal type which will project in front of the vane.

When the engines ar© started they will pull round in a circular path the vanes to which they are attached. Thus the system will be power driven without the employment of any form of gearing. This plan has also the advantage that should any one of the engines break down the remaining units will still keep the rotating system going at a speed sufficient to maintain the machine in the air. Horizontal movement is obtained by the use’of an ordinary aero engine aim propeller. It is claimed for this method of mounting engines actually in rotating surfaces that it will not only enable vertical ascents and descents to lie made, but that machines so equipped will be able to come to a standstill in midair and hover motionless. Certainly much work lias still to Ik? done before the man-carrying hovering air machine is a completely practical proposition. But experts declare that far sooner than many people think we shall have a neat little popular type of craft, which we shall wheel out on a lawn, take our seat, and soar straight upward, alighting afterwards in our own garden at the conclusion of a flight, during which, whenever wo desire we shall Ik? able to slow up and stand still in mid-air.