Business: Baby Planes

A contest at Lympne, England, for small low-powered planes produced astonishing results. One competitor flew 91½ miles on a gallon of gasoline and 812 miles at a total fuel cost of $5. Captain Norman MacMillan on a tiny Parnall machine flew at 76½ miles an hour, although his tiny motorcycle engine turns up only three or four horse power. Handley Page applied his famous slotted wing to an " air flivver"—when the slot was open the device acted like an air brake, reducing the landing speed so much that the machine came...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!