MR. FARMAN'S RECORD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 395, 21 May 1910, Page 10

MR. FARMAN'S RECORD.

FIFTY MILES AN HOUR WITH TWO IPAiSSENGERS. Mourmeloh-le-finand, March 11. Mr, Henry Farman has created another world's Aviation record, and, at the same time proved the efficiency of a new type of aeroplane of his own invention. With two passengers and a considerable amount of dead weight on board, the famous aviator to-day flew •his latest machine a distance of fourteen miles in the record time of 16min 35sec., or about, fifty miles, on hour. The new Farman aeroplane, which was brought out at about 6 o'clock, gave rise to much curiosity and criticism, its construction having been kent a secret. It >may be described as an aeroplane which combines the features of the biplane and the monoplane. The top main .plane is considerably longer than the under plane, while the tail has a distinct tendency to the monoplane type. The machine is fitted with ailerons as in former models.

A strong, gusty wind prevailed at 6 o'clock when Mr. Farman invited Mme. Franck and myself to take our seats in the new. flier. It rose from the ground with the ease of a bird, and attained a speed I have never experienced in previous fights. M. Van den Born went up on his own machine and endeavored to make a race of it, tout we left Him far behind. Mr. Farman controlled his new machine as if he had never "been used to any other. We were compelled to come down owing to darkness setting in. 1 The marked superiority of the new machine over the old biplane may be gathered from the fact that at Rlieims in the same time of lGmin and with the same number of passengers, Mr. Farman only flew seven miles, or half the distance covered to-day. To-mor-row Mr. Farman intends to try to fly his new- machine with two passengers for an hour and a-half. Mr. C. S. Rolls flew in a strong wind, blowing at times twenty-five miles an hour, at Eastchurch yesterday. His speed with the wind was over sixty miles an hour.