A PALMERSTON GENIUS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 9, 9 January 1913, Page 3

A PALMERSTON GENIUS.

CONSTRUCTING AN AEROPLANE. (Manawatu Times.) In a small shed at Terrace End a young Palmerstonian, an ex-Terraci End schoolboy, Mr I). P. Fritzschner, assisted by another young man, Mi A. Simmonds, is building an aeroplane. Probably this statement causes j smile. When the public see the aeroplane their incredulity will give place to astonishment and pleasure at the genius this town is fostering In a month or two the opportunity will be afforded for Mr Fritzschnei hopes to have his plane completer within that time and to be giving il a trial fly, possibly at the racecourse. Just at present he has the body, tin wings, and the fins all constructed and ready for the covering. Ho has hi: fifty horse-power engine ready for atatching to the plane, and the propeller has yet to be constructed. The aeroplane is most ingeniously and solidly constructed. A representa tive of the “Times” says it is buili on approved lines though in some respects Mr Fritzschner has introduced his own ideas. These he has been ex perimenting with and testing for tin last six years. Ho has constructed

numerous models some as large aF ton feet, and lias flown them, and smashed them up to prevent his invention becoming known. He has also built gliders and glided several miles. At Pahiatua a year or so agr he built a full-sized aeroplane and flew himself, at intervals, about 8C miles. He is, therefore, not exactly a novice. One of his most striking features is his modest confidence ir his machine and his inventions connected therewith. It is impossible also, not to admire the excellent workmanship and dimensions of his aeroplane, even if one had no previous knowledge of aeroplanes and theii construction.

This particular machine is 28 feet long, 34 feet across the wings and it stands 10 feet high. Australian stringy bark and jarrah are used principally in its construction. Piano wire, and steel joints keep it taut. The wings and body are to be covered with a material known only to the inventor. The two young men engaged in building the aeroplane have styled themselves the New Zealand Aviation Company. It will be extremely interesting to await the success attending their first exhibition of flight. There is no reason why New Zealanders should not he successful in this branch of science.