FLYING MOTOR-CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1919, Page 7

FLYING MOTOR-CYCLE.

REMARKABLE SWISS INVENTION.

It is reported that a Swiss inventor has designed a flying motor cycle, that gives promise of greater things to follow. Mr. Duplane, the inventor, has demonstrated the capabilities of his machine by actually flying a distance of one mile at a height of about 15ft. The trial flight took place in the vicinity of Geneva, in the presence of a few privileged persons. The machine ran along the ground for a distance of thirty yards, and then gracefully took to the air. According to Ihe inventor, a greater triumph could have been accomplished, but, inasmuch as the pilot, Weber, chief of the School of Aviation at Lausanne, who had. been engaged to fly the machine, was unable to be present, it was deemed advisable to avoid unnecessary risks But the fact remains that a flying motor cycle has been designed, and lias successfully carried out the preliminary tests. The construction of the machine dates back to May 35, 1918. In September of that year certain engineers, representing an Italian firm, visited Mr. Duplane, and offered to purchase the invention. The offer was refused, but it is on record that the Italians have invented a machine similar to that built by the Swiss engineer, but which lacks Rome of the most essential parts. The Duplane machine is ri small biplane, and is so constructed that tho wings open and phut automatically. This, indeed, is most important. There is nothing slow or cumbersome about the wings; within a few seconds of touching the earth, or, say, for a distance of twenty-flva yards, they close up by the simple process of pulling down a lever. Moreover, so cleverly are they designed that they cannot .fold other than at the in-, stance of the pilot, and only when the machine has reached the ground; thus all danger or fear of accident is obviated. In appearance the machine resembles very much the ordinary motor cycle, although it is naturally much larger; and the back wheel is flexible, similar to tjie front wheel. When in flight it measures about 23 feet from wing to wing, and has <i length of 16ft., but when on the road the dimension? are no more than Oft in width by 12ft. 9in. in length. The steeling arrangement is similar to that of the ordinary motor: cycle, and' can be controlled either in the air or on the road by the use of one hand. With its 30-h.p. engine the machine is capable of flying at a speed of 56 miles an hour, and even on the road it can attain the speed of 41 miles per hour. The system adopted for ascending or descending is the same as that of the aeroplane. The propellor works at 1400 revolutions per minute, and is so arranged that it ceases to revolve the moment the machine touches the earth. The total weight is'about 5001b., or 6751b. with pilot, a weigH which is not eicesSiVe. J