WONDERFUL TRIPLANE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10278, 13 May 1919, Page 8

WONDERFUL TRIPLANE

TO CARRY 100 PEOPLE

NON-STOP JOURNEY OF ‘2OOO MILES.

The trial flight ot the most remarkable aeroplane yeF designed null be made at Farnborough soon (states a writer in a London paper of recent date). Mechanics are busy assembitn» the machine in one of the huge hangars at tno Royal Aircraft establishment, and it will present a spectacle in the air unlike anything na as been seen during the whole flying era. The machine is the Tarrant su P er * triplane, briefly reierred to by JbjnGoneral Seeiy on tflo House of Commons on March 18th. when he toiesliadowed a' marvellous development ot civilian aviation. ine most striUu„ feature is its long cigar-snaped ■ fuselage, similar iu appearance to the body or -a Zeppelin. Captain P. T. Rawlings, • together with Mr W. G. Tarrant, of the wellknown firm of Government contractors of Byfleet, originated the machine, and he expects to be in it on the hrst hight. The machine was originally designed to bomb Berlin—carrying 10,00uib or bombs and a crew of eight over a distance of 1200 miles. It has a span of 141 feet, tnt- fuselage is »o reet, and it is fitted with six Napier “Lion 600 b.-p. engines. TVv ENT I-FOUR HOURS’ FLIGHTS. When the airoraTl industry began preparations for commercial flying vho makers of the super-tnpiane followed suit, with the result that this type will bo capable of carrying over ILKj passengers or a cargo weighing nine tons, for a distance ot 1200 mrle*. The speed of the converted machine will be anything from 80 to 100 miles per hour, it possesses enormous possibilities m continuous flying, and by extra tankage it would be possible to make a non-stop flight . lasting twenty-iour. hours, which means, roughly speaking, a distance of 2000 miles under favourable conditions.

“The exceptionally large amount ot space in the fuselage,'’ said Captain Rawlings, “would permit of several relays ot pilots on a long journey, which is obviously a great advantage, and ensures an additional degree of safety. The pilots would relieve one another at the controls, and each man would be enabled to taka needful rest. The design of the fuselage is peculiar, in that it contains no bracing wires, thus permitting the inside ot the machine to be used for a variety of purposes.’’ CRICKET IN THE FUSELAGE.

Hollow and practically circular when viewed end-on, the fuselage is built ot wood and strengthened by a patent system of girders not unlike the masts of an Ararican warship, *nd it »s this which obviates the use of bracing wires and other fittings common to the ordinary aeroplane. There is a free way right down the centre of the fuselage, permitting anyone to walk to the tan. “As a matter of fact, you could play oricket in our machine." said one of Captain Rawling’s men. One ot the secrets of the design is that it enable the machine to fiy faster than other aeroplanes ot the same size or weight. Three rows of glass windows, giving the appeaanca of portholes, will be fitted in the side of the triplane, and tiers of seats —probably chairs—will be provided for the passengers. In addition to the staff of pilots which the triplane will carry there will bo on board two or three engineers and mechanics, a navigator, and wireless operator. The work of steering the triplane will bo done by intermediary power units, on the principle adopted in controlling steamship rudders, but the pilot, if lie wishes, will be able to take direct control at any time, and steer this huge machine single-handed. Captain Dunne, of the Royal Air, Force, will probably be the first to pilot this super-triplane on her series of trial flights, to which all Farnborough is eagerly looking forward.