Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 9 July 1925, page 10


THE WIDGEON.

FAILS TO FLY.

DIVES INTO BOTANY

BAY.

PILOT ESCAPES.

What for a few moments seemed to be a serious seaplane disaster occurred in Botany Bay yesterday afternoon, when the Widgeon, the Australian designed and built seaboat, instead of rising into the air, nose-dived into the water.

Flight-Commander Wackett, the designer of the machine, was the pilot, and he had with him as observer Colonel Brinsmead, Controller of Civil Aviation.

Looking at the seaplane from the land It seemed as If it was about to take the air, but Instead It nose-dived, and the next instant all that was seen was the talk of

the machine above the water.

reclamations of fear were uttered by the hundreds of persons who were watching the test from the landing stage at La Perouse, but after about twenty seconds the forms of men were seen holding on to the wings of the seaplane, to the great delight of the spectators, who included Mrs. Wackett, wife or the designer and pilot.

Colonel Brinsmead, later in the evening, stated that the Widgeon was not seriously damaged, and that a fortnight would probably be sufficient to effect repairs, when the seasons would again be ready for tests.

None of the occupants suffered injury other than severe shock from their immersion in the icy cold water, and a shaking from being thrown out of the machine. The Civil Ambulance was summoned by some of the spectators, but it was found that their services were not required.

AN EXPERIMENTAL MACHINE.

The Widgeon was built by the experimental section of the Royal Australian Air Force, in the Federal Aircraft Works at Randwick. The machine was designed by SquadronLeader Wackett, and, with the exception of the 230 hp. Siddeley Puma engine, all the material was of Australian make. The timber was Australian grown, and selected as a result of the tests made specially for the Federal Government by Mr. Broadsmith, one of the engineer designers of the Avro Company, prior to his return to England.

In almost every particular the machine may be regarded as an experiment, and the cost of construction was borne by the Defence Department for the purpose of ascertaining how far it is practicable to design and build aeroplanes and seaplanes in Australia. This season was specially designed for civil aviation purposes, but the tests were watched by Wing-Commander Williams, who officially represented the Australian Air Board, and he stated yesterday the altitude of the Defence Department towards this make of seaboat would be guided mainly by the behaviour of the Widgeon in Its actual flying

tests.

It was pointed out by leading members of the Royal Australian Air Force yesterday that in many leading details the Widgunn varied considerably from the war standard designs. There was a consensus' of opinion amongst the exports that she would be "a dirty boat, which means that she would always ship a great deal of water even In fair weather, and that there would be grave danger of swamping in rough seas. This opinion, given before the boat actually attempted to fly, was borne out by the tests yesterday, as throughout the machine seemed to be "nose heavy." and to have insufficient

tail control.

* Colonel Brinsmead, who was in all the attempted flights yesterday, said afterwards, that it was too soon to form a reliable opinion in regard either to the seaworthiness of the machine or its air reliability. He said he was satisfied from the tests that the design was theoretically sound, and he believed that when repaired the future tests would show the reliability of the machine in practical work. Up to the present, he said, despite the unfortunate accident, the machine had acted up to anticipations. He attributed the accident to the fact that the machine, when getting up speed for the elevation, was struck by a long roller wave, which bumped the sea boat up into the air, and. In crossing the trough, the nose was deflected downward, and was caught by the second roller, which smashed In the front woodwork of the boat, causing the machine to sink Instantaneously.

STORY OF THE TESTS.

The Widgeon was taken from Randwick to La Perouse over a week ago, and was there subjected to final tuning up, and on Tuesday was launched in Botany Bay, when further tests followed, preliminary to the official tests yesterday.

In the forenoon, when every thing scored in order, the machine was started on what was hoped would be Its first aerial journey. Squadron-Leader Wackett was the pilot, and Colonel Brinsmead was so confident that the machine would work satisfactorily, that he went aboard for observations of its behaviour in

the air.

The Widgeon started on her initial Journey with every indication of a successful flight. The water was skimmed as gracefully as any airman could wish, and the crowd encouraged the pilot with hearty cheers. But hardly had those died away when it was evident the machine was in difficulties, and she swerved suddenly, and struck a sandbank with considerable force. A searching examination proved that there had been no damage done, and a further effort was made. This time the machine was headed towards Captain Cook's landing-place at Kurnell, but when she got well towards the Heads It was realised that she could not face the waters of the open bay, and she was brought back to the vicinity of the hangar without any mishap.

Colonel Brinsmead's comment on the trip was that the machine was going admirably until she turned towards the ocean, then the waves were too much for her. They would, he added, have presented no difficulty to a tried seaplane, but it would have been too risky to encounter them on a trial and experimental flight.

At 3.30 In the afternoon the Widgeon was drawn upon the sands, opposite the hangar, where, with due ceremony, she was officially christened by Mrs. Wackett, wife of the de-signer. A rainstorm was threatening at this time, and, after a short delay, the weather Improved and the wind lessened. SquadronLoader Wackett then indicated that he would again make an effort to fly, and he and Colonel Brinsmead entered the machine amidst the warmest wishes of the spectators for the best

of good luck.

There was some difficulty in getting the engine stalled, mainly owing to the extreme coldness of the atmosphere. The machine was taken out to the bay, and performed a number evolutions on the water, which showed that she was answering the control satisfactorily. The only sign of danger was that, even in calm water, the boat made so much sea that there appeared, from the land danger of her overturning. When she got up speed for the elevation the accident occurred with startling suddenness. The pilot, Colonel Brinsmead, and the two mechanics were immediately rescued by the occupants of the R.A.S. speed boat, which attended the Widgeon on her

trials.

A number of anxious spectators, Including Mrs Wnrkett, chartered a launch to go out to the scene of the accident, but, when they arrived alongside, it was found that the speedboat had the Bcnbont In tow, and Flight Commander Wackett, who took the mishap with philosophic calm, shouted to his wife: "We are all right: no one is hurt."

The Widgeon was towed to shallow water near the hangar on the bench, and Inter was dragged ashore, when examination showed that the damage done was comparatively little, n id It can be repaired without much delay or expense. _^___-_^^_^_^___