AVIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 61, 17 March 1913, Page 3

AVIATION.

SEARCHLIGHT OBSERVATION.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright (United Press Association.)

(Received 8.5 a.in.) Berlin, March 'l4

A naval airship equipped with a 40,000 candle-power searchlight demonstrated the practicability of searchlight observations from a height of 1500 metres. AVIATORS AT AUCKLAND. MONOPLANE AND HYDROPLANE READY TO FLY.

li b Auckland,! March 5

It would almost seem 'that Auckland is at last about to witness two airships in full flight over the city. Such, at anyrate, is the optimistic belief of those who have brought their machines to that stage when everything is ready for the first attempt to ascend to mid-

air. «»•. m.’.i! In Auckland-rto-day there are tv,) machines—a monoplane and a hydroplane—owned and constructed by different persons, 'which are both ready to essay the final test. The monoplane hands on the Avondale racecourse ready for her first flight, like some giant bird with wings outstretched. It tvaits in a sheltered corner for the first calmn morning, when at daybreak she can be tested .above ground. The machine has been imported from England, and is a duplicate of that used by Hammond, the famous English birdman. The engine is an 80 li.p. of eight cylinders, and has been commonly used in other parts of the >vorld where airships are no longer a novelty. The machine has been put together by two young engineers—Captain Jonassen, of Christchurch, and Mr Miller, of Dunedin—both of whonj have toured the world and seen a good leal of the work on which they are now engaged. Captain Jonassen, besides being an engineer, is an experienced aeronaut, ind has over a hundred balloon ascents to his credit. It was Captain Jonassen, it will be remembered, who four years ago met with a very serious accident as the result of the top blowing out of his balloon and letting him in for a 300 ft. fall, which necessitated his remaining in hospital for six months. The machine, on which; these gentlemen are now ’ bestowing attention would have been put on its'-Jirst trial to-day but for the fact that a day or two ago it broke away while being tested, and smashed into a fence, damaging the propeller and also one of the wings. This has now 'been rectified, however, and the machine is ready for its attempted first ascent. To-day the first hydro-plane to stretch its wings 6n the Waitemata was launched from a little T-shaped shed on the water front. Its owner and builder is Mr Stevenson, a young Auckland engineer. The machine is a picture to look at, and is built on the lines of a successful English hydro. The owner has for many weeks past been devoting long hours - of patient work to the perfection of his model. This machine, unlike the monoplane, has been built entirely in Auckland to the design of hydroplanes successfully used elsewhere. Equally difficult, and far more dangerous, is the work of learning to fly, and Mr Stevenson’s trials will bo carried out quietly until he has achieved that success which warrants publicity. Meantime Mr Stevenson (like Captain Jonassen and Mr Miller) prefers not to “talk for publication.”