AVIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17685, 24 July 1919, Page 5

AVIATION.

SEAPLANE MADE IN NEW ZEALAND,

(I 1 rom Our Own Correspondent.)

Ml . j G CHRISTCHURCH. July 23. j-vii ti. Lr. Maclue, for two years chief FK-im" C l°l **} th u A,Jcl;land an d Sockburn ' ? has iust finished the cont f 1?.J?" v a scaplanc > wllic!l is convertible n half <m hour to a landplane. The maS,,"° 1S no ) v .assembled at R ec i c i iffSj neaj l u ;lc!nc intends to make a trial night on the first suitable day to Lyttelton, where he has established a seaplauo

Ihe piano has been constructed entirely of New Zealand material. It is some 22ft m length and has a top wing span of 35ft. it is dual-controlled, and is equipped with a horse-power Maxim engine, watercooled. Two floats, each lift lons by llin bv 12m and weighing 521b, are made of diagonally-planked timber, and are doubleskinned. 1 here are not less than 1200 screw nails in each float. As scon as engines can be obtained from England Mr Mackie will 0 U P. t' lo construction of airplanes for commercial purposes. Ho also intends to build seaplanes for private sale, it being possible to place an almost "foolproof" seapiano on the market for £350 or £400. It would run 14 miles to the gallon of petrol Mr Mackie intends to make trips from Lytte!ton_ to Akaroa, Kaikoura, and other coastal towns.