Форум Breguet's Aircraft Challenge

The prototype (New Zealand 's Vogel), was built during 1909-10 by a Wellington photographer Arthur Schaef, with assistance from engineer Percy Fisher. The engine was an adaptation of a J.A.P. engine. The aircraft left the ground briefly, when it was test flown along the foreshore at Lyall Bay in mid-January 1911, followed by further attempts over the coming months. The best effort was 150 feet in length, only a few feet off the ground.
   He then attempted a land trial at Hagley Park, Christchurch, but the crowds got in his way and ultimately the crankshaft broke before he could get airborne. The aircraft was shipped back to Wellington and Schaef bought a new engine from England, a 30hp Anzani.
   Returning to the beach and in an effort to avoid crowds, Schaef fitted floats to the machine and Vogel II became New Zealand's first amphibious aircraft. It was trialled at Evan's Bay and would taxi on the water but not take off, as the drag was too great. Schaef was forced to replace the floats with wheels once again.
   He continued to fly his machine from Lyall Bay until March 1914, when a fire destroyed the Vogel II. Schaef did not attempt to rebuild it.

Журнал Flight

Flight, March 29, 1913.

Aviation in New Zealand.

   INTEREST in aviation in New Zealand is being kept alive by Mr. A. W. Schaef, of Ingestre Street, Wellington, N.Z., who has designed and built two machines. In our photo he is seen in his latest machine, which he has fitted with a 1912 Y type 35-h.p. Anzani engine and Rapid propeller. The machine has made several flights over the beach at Auckland, and, fitted with floats, also made by Mr. Schaef, it has risen from the surface of the sea. The machine is peculiar in having an elevator above the pilot, working in unison with the tail elevator, and the designer claims that this arrangement ensures more lift and greater stability. Mr. Schaef is the New Zealand agent of the General Aviation Contractors, to whom we are indebted for the photograph.


Flight, May 2, 1914.

AVIATION IN NEW ZEALAND.

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   In the meantime, Mr. A. W. Schaef, who, as our readers will remember, has built a monoplane, fitted with a 35 h.p. Y Anzani, which was illustrated in these pages some months ago, has made one or two short flights at Lyall Bay and at Newton Park, Wellington, New Zealand. On March 16th, three flights of about 100 yards each at a height of 20 ft. were made over the beach at Lyall Bay, but unfortunately in landing on the last one a part of the chassis gave way with the result that the wings and propeller were damaged. Mr. Schaef, who, it will be recalled, is the representative of General Aviation Contractors, Ltd., in New Zealand, immediately set to work to get the machine repaired, and hopes that it will not be long now before he is able to make some really long flights.