AERIAL NAVIGATION

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 19

AERIAL NAVIGATION

*- ' , * 1/ONDON, August 24. Mr Lloyd-Georgje, on. being interviewed", ■expressed his admiration for the Rheims tourney, which was organised by a club without Government help. The progress of the association in so short a time was snsurvellous, and he only wished that such * a- meeting were possible at an early date in England — say, on Salisbury Plain. August 25. Mr Lloyd-George, on being interviewed On his return to London, thought that the experiments at Rheims were a great triumph. The American's (Wright) machine was the most sure and dependable of all. With the others there was always a half nervous -apprehension that they , might descend at any moment. V I wish, however, that we were doing more towards this work, which may alter the history of the world." PARIS, August 24. After beating the altitude records and 'attaining a height of 1500 'metres, the French dirigible airship Clement Bayard on- a trial trip before delivery to Ruesia, .While descending at Maijons Laffitte, was .' caught in. a squall and struck., a tree. The oa/f fell in the Seine, but the four occupanis swam to eafety. In the elementary trials -at the Rheims contests M. ■Pauihaai^ in a Vcasin biplane, ;■ 00v^r.e^.,,34^ mdfes in 56 minutes. M. '. -Bferiot^ in a 50 - horse--power monoplane, mide' a .world's '.speed' record, covering 10 kilometres in eight minutes 42 seconds. M. Curtias, in a biplane, then beat this record by seven seconds. 1 The British delegates, beaded by General French, 'are expected at Rheims to-day. August 25. M. Bleriot; at Rheims, beat Mr Curtis'e record by 31 Seconds. Other French aeropianists made many daring evolutions. The French Government has increased the War Minister's credit by half a-mil-lion francs (£20,000) for dirigibles. August 26. In connection with the Rheims tests, M. Paulhan has established a new world's record, remaining in the air for two hours 43min 28sec, and coverings 81 2-5 miles.- During the last portion of the flight he gallantly contended with rain and a high wind until his stock of petrol was exhausted. I M. Latham covered 18£ miles in 32m in. August 27 i At the Rheims tests M. Hubert Latham beat all records for 6peed and distance, aeroplaning in a, strong •■ wind until his ' peirol was exhausted. He covered 96^ \ miles in 2hr 18mm lOsec. i Comtie Lambert, in a Wright machine, eoyered 72 miles in 114 mm. ' i M. Bleriot lost control of his best ' machine, which turned a- somersault and j struck /a fence. Nobody was injured. August 28. A new French' military dirigible balloon named Libertej designed by Lebaudy and ' of] 155 horse-power, made a successful trial i flight at Nantes. It attained a speed of 33 miles an hour, carrying seven passengers. At the 'Rhedims tests Farman covered | 112 miles in 3hr 4min 56£ sec, and thus wins the Grand Prize valued at £2000. Latham won the second prize of £1000, and Paulhan the third of £400. August 29. Mr Curtis, the American, won the 10kilometre aeroplane speed race in 7min 55sec, also the Gordon Bennett 20-kilo-metre speed prize, consisting of a cup value £10,000 (? £1000), with *a trophy worth £500, in 15min 51sec. M Bleriot -was second (time, 15min 56sec), and M. Latham third (17min 33sec). August 30. } •Mr Curtis "won the 30-kilometre speed , race in 26min 40sec. j "M. Bleriot's motor in his race exploded, j Sand the burning machine struck the ground with' some force. M. Bleriot j slightly Burned his hand. A quarter of a * million spectators were present. j - BERLIN, August 30. j The Zeppelin airship quitted Friedrics- 1 E^f en on Friday, but experienced mishaps . necessitating stoppages for repairs. It arrived at Berlin yesterday. The Kaiser wfeffmly welcomed Count Zeppelin, and drove with him to the Royal Castle. SYDNEY, August 28. [At a meeting of the Aerial League it Iras decided to appeal for public sub-

ecriptions to the 'extent of £5000 (to . supplement a similar amount offered by the Federal Government) to encourage Australian . inventors in aerial navigation. AN INVERCARGILL INVENTOR. 1 (Fkom Ottb Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, August 28. The recent airship mystery has had one effect, even although its elucidation { is still a mystery, for it has induced Mr Simon M 'Donald, late of Gore, and now of Invercargill, to put into , shape an aeroplane idea that he has had in his mind for several years. He recently ; constructed a model of his invention, 1 and the miniature scecimen worked so j successfully that he has taken out a I patent to protect his design. The idea .is simple. It is founded on the principle ( of the paper dart, which boys delight in, s and which carry their own weight for J many- yards until they lose their momen- ! turn and drop. In the light of the numerous experiments recently made in aviation, Mr M'Donald has placed the matter in the hands of Mr H. J. Pither, ! a motor and oil-engine expert here, and j as Mr Pither has himself been keenly interested in aerial questions, arrangements have been made^ to "lease an extensive shed and to build an aeroplane of light construction, to/Tie" driven by a ■fourcylinder motor, , capatfle - of' developing 30 h.p. The machine will weigh about j UOOlb, and will be ' driven by two prowlers. .The measurements will be 35ft i by 20ft, . and the machine will be capable tof carrying' two .men.' The construction J will be carried, out as speedily as possible, and both Jnventor- and engineer anticipate f a" successful trial "in" February or ■ March. A good deal of public interest is being manifested in the invention. " SAFETY IN SPEED." " Safety lies in speed," said Mr Latham in conversation with a correspondent of fhe Westminster Gazette, " and to increase the , speed you must increase the power. I in- i tended to replace my 50 h.p. motor by one j of 120' h.p. M. Lavayass&ur has already! | designed a' flying machine of 300 h.p. to travel at 200 miles an hour, and you may ! take it that this speed will be an accom- * plished fact within two years from now | •The only difficulty with high speeds is in. ■ ; bringing; -the machine to earth. My machine | j takes flight in Prom 150 to 300 yards, accord- j ing to the wind, at a specd 1 of 40 kilo- j • metres an hour,' and I have to descend at • about Hh»~- same velocity ; but there is no j < difficulty and very little danger about it I if there is room to manoeuvre in." MiLatham, adds the correspondent, beiieves , that the monoplane will be the most popular . I type in ths future-, bu-t he said he could j not give me any details of M. Lavavasseur's i j monster " flier," designed to carry 25 I people, which will materialise in due course. He is a director of the Antoinette Company, and regards flying as an incomparable sport. j