AVIATION MATTERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20262, 3 August 1937, Page 7

AVIATION MATTERS.

BUCCESBFUL EXPERIMENT. A “ VERTAPLANE ” DEMONSTRATED ADVANTAGES OF TWO TYPES. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. PHILADELPHIA, August 1. A successful demonstration was given to-day before Government air experts of a “ vertaplane.” It flew conventionally, but also it was possible to convert one wing in mid-air into a rotator, thus enabling the machine to land as an autogiro. Combining the advantages of both types, the machine weighs 17001 b. At present it cannot carry a pay load and this remains the greatest problem in connection with its development. SERVICE ACROSS CANADA. FLIGHT OF 3000 MILES. PILOT AND MINISTER. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. VANCOUVER, August i. In establishing the air mail service across Canada Pilot J. T. Tudhope,' with the Minister of Transport, Mr C. Howe, flew from Montreal to Vancouver, a distance of 3000 miles, in 17 hours. A TRANS-POLAR FLIGHT. AMERICAN AIRMAN’S ATTEMPT. United Press Assn.—Eioc. Tel. Copyright WASHINGTON, August 1. The Department of Commerce has granted the famous American round-the-world filer, James Mattern, permission to attempt a trans-polar flight to Moscow. The permit stipulates that the flight shall be made early in 1938, as weather is rapidly becoming unfavourable. A REMARKABLE STORY. LAYING AERIAL MINEFIELDS. TO COUNTER RAIDING PLANES. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, August 2. A remarkable story of a device to lay 44 aerial minefields ” to counter raiding aircraft is described in the ; Sunday Chronicle, which says it has j been examined and praised by aero- i nautical experts. ! It is stated that the Inventor, Mr ! Harry Grlndell-Matthews, has designed an aerial torpedo which will reach a height of 32,000 feet within a few seconds. At this height, the rocket will discharge upwards of 20 parachutes, to which time-bombs arc attached by high tensile quality sled wires. The parent rocket is provided with its own parachute, which blows out at the end. thus enabling the rocket to be relrleved and recharged. Large numbers of these rockets would be' discharged in a short time, releasing colonies of 20 to 30 smaller rockets and so creating an aerial minefield over a wide area. The cost of the rockets would be a few hundred pounds each. The' Sunday Chronicle describes the inventor's experimental station as situated on a lonely Welsh plateau surroundered by an electrified fence and barbed wire fences. In the workshops, if, adds, the rockets will be manufactured soon.