BABY AIRCRAFT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 445, 1 February 1933, Page 4

BABY AIRCRAFT

MOTOR MANUFACTURERS PLAN PRODUCTION OF CIIEAP MODELS. MOTOR-CY CLE ENGINES USED. London, Monday. Airplanes cheaper than motor ears will be on the market next year. These baby aircraft, safe and easy to fly, will give a new lease of life to British aviation. It is estimated that there are 150,000 young men and women who would take up flying if it were as cheap as motoring. The new aircraft will make it cheaper. The basic idea is the use of a reliable type of motor-cycle engine. The engine is the chief factor making for expense in flying, costing as mueh as £300 in a light aircraft. A motorcycle engine could be fitted for £25. The cost of wood and fabric is a negligible proportion of the total. The writer has actually seen flying two aircraft which could be sold today, made singly, at £150. On mass production lines they could probably be marketed at less th'an £100. No tax is paid on aircraft, and petrol and oil for these machines work out at id per mile. The only additional expense, except for overhauls and garaging, is insurance. As this is £40 on the average £600 light airplane, it should he approximately £10 for the smaller £100 machine. Both machines were eapable of over 40 miles per hour, and although not suitable for long-distance flying were able to perform normal manoeuvres and could he flown after a few hours' tuition by any one. These two aircraft, designed by a briflliiant young engineer, represfent only one element in air development. Five other flrms are planning aircraft to sell at prices ranging from £150 to £310; the cheapest on the market to-clay is £550. ' .