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'PLANE DESIGNED

IN BRISBANE

Two Miles a Minute

Attained

TEST FLIGHT

Speeding through the air " at two miles a minute, a tiny silver monoplane made aviation history in Queensland at Archerfield aerodrome yesterday. Designed and built by Mr. G. N. Wlck ner, the Brisbane pile;, it gave a re- markable exhibition of speed and manoeuvrability during Its first test flight, and is the fastest light aero- plane yet produced in Australia.

Powered with a Cirrus II. four cylinder engine, the machine is an ex- ternally braced low-wing monoplane. It has extremely clean lines, is sturdily built, and has accommodation for pilot and one passenger-the passenger cockpit being totally enclosed. An interesting feature of the design is the rigid undercarriage, but ample air wheels compensate for the absence of the usual shock absorbers, and ensure comfortable landings. Stream-lined "spats" fitted over'the wheels reduce wind resistance to a minimum, and at the same time enhance the clean lines of this speedy little machine. It is the first low-wing monoplane to be built hi Australia. The workmanship and finish are equal to those of im- ported aircraft.

A large crowd watched the first test flight of the Wicko Wizard. Among them was the airman-designer's mother, who watched her son's final preparations to take the machine into the air with pride, tinged with anxiety. None realised better than she the hazards of the first flight of an un-

tried machine.

SPEEDY TAKE-OFF.

Tlie motor roared into life, and a few minutes late Mr. Wlckner climbed into the cockpit.

Then, with a cheery wave of his hand to the crowd, he taxied the machine on to the aerodrome. Without any pre- liminary tests on the groun 1 the pilot prepared for the take-off. The engine of the monoplane roared. For a fraction of a second the machine scarcely appeared to move. Then It shot for- ward, and within

Mr. G. N. Wickncr.

five seconds was off the ground, and climbing rapidly.

On the ground the crowd cheered lustily. The tense atmosphere which had preceded the crucial test was swept away as the tiny monoplane climbed steadily into the blue. It circled the aerodrome, and then, turn- ing sharp'.y sped like -a silver bullet above the heads of the spectators, travelling at more than two miles a minute in an impressive exhibition of speed. s

A few seconds later, at an altitude of 2000ft., the piJot-designer gave an equally Impressive test of the manoeuvrability of the Wizard, bank- ing the machine so steeply that its wings were almost at right angles to the ground. The subsequent landing was accomplished without difficulty.

ATTAINED 120 M.P.H.

Mr. Wickner said that the test flieht had been extremely satisfactory. The machine had behaved splendidly, and had handled well in the air. The take-off had exceeded expectations. "It was in the air after an extra- ordinarily short run; in fact, It was flying almost before I realised it," he remarked. The pilot-designer also was particularly pleased by the speed of the Wizard, 120 miles an hour being attained. The cruising speed was 93

miles an hour.

The Wicko Wizard is the third and most successful machine designed and built by Mr. Wickner. For more than four years he has specialised In the design and construction of aircraft, I and his natural aptitude for this work has been developed by his association with Mr. Edear Percival, his cousin, who has achieved international recoj nltton as a designer of high-speed

commercial aircraft.

THIRD MACHINE.

The first machine designed" and built by Mr. Wickner was a single-seat cabin monoplane, which created an altitude record of 17,000ft. This machine was succeeded by the Wicko Lion, a high wing sports monoplane, which had a satisfactory performance. In the con- struction of the Wizard Mr. Wickner was greatlv assisted by Mr. Norman Roberts, of Ipswich. '

Mr. Wickner holds both private and commercial pilots' licences, and in ad- dition ground engineers' certificates for the building of aircraft, rigging, in- spection of engines and top overhauls, and the welding of aircraft com-

ponents.

He intends to leave for England" on the Ormonde on May 19. There he hopes to engage in aircraft construc- tion, if possible, In association with Mr. Edgar Percival, who has an air- craft factory for the production of Percival Gull machines.

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