£ S. D. OF AEROPLANES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2431, 20 February 1909, Page 10 (Supplement)

£ S. D. OF AEROPLANES.

WHAT IT COSTS TO OWN A FLYING MACHINE. The triumph achieved by Wilbur Wright with his flying machine has been''largely attributed by him to the skilful way his designers have carried out his plans. Tho whole of this important work has been entrusted to the Vo is in Brothers, Paris, who own the largest and most successful aeroplane factory in tho world. In making an aeroplane the most expensive part is tlio motor or driving force. The workroom’ of the Voisin Brothers is filled with great flying machines, and presents a strange sjkictaele, with more resemblance) to a museum than a workshop. All the machinery and materials required consist of a saw, a plane, a few 'planks, iron sockets, and a quantity of muslin and iron. , * The planks, which are or well-sea-soned ash, white pine, or poplar, and about 30ft or 35ft long, are sawn into strips from 2in to 21,-in square. Four of these strips, connected by uprights and crossjp.ieoes about 30iu long, fittod into iron sockets, form tho axis of the aeroplane, which is mado rigid by diagonal wire, braces. On the axis a seat is provided for the operator and another for the motor. To each side of this frame a wing is attached, constructed of four strips of wood, connected by cross-pieces and stiffened with wire braces. Each wing carries two horizontal aeroplanes _of muslin. This complete, the machine is ready for the motor, propeller, and rudders. The whole process of construction docs not exceed a week. The current price of >an aeroplane is £BOO to £I,OOO, about half of which is for the motor. The high price is justified to some degree by the novelty of the industry and tho infrequency oi the orders.