FLYING OVER ICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19050, 22 June 1925, Page 11

FLYING OVER ICE.

EXPERIENCE IN LABRADOR. USE FOR LOCATING SEALS. MAIL SERVICE TO OUTPOSTS. Some interesting observations based on actual experience in the use of aeroplanes in ice and snow-clad country were made yesterday by Mr. F. Sidney Cotton, a young Australian, who is a through passenger by the Aorangi to Sydney. For the past four years Mr. Cotton has been at the head of a commercial company which ran aeroplane services in Newfoundland and in Labrador, and additional interest is lent to his remarks in view of the exploits of Amundsen in his attempt to reach the North Pole by aeroplane." Mr. Cotton believes the day has come when it is easier to fly aeroplanes over ice and snow-covered country than over country experiencing normal conditions. He served with the naval division of the air force during the war, and his love for flying prompted him to look around and seek other uses for flying machines during peace. Ho saw great prospects for the commercial utility of the aeroplane in countries where transport was prolonged and arduous during the winter months and floated a company in Newfoundland in 1920. The pioneers in flying in ice country learned much through hard experience during the first 12 months, and at the end of that time had perfected their machines so that they conJd withstand any kind of Arctic conditions. "Tho problem was solved when wo found a way to keep the engines warm and had equipped the machines with special skids," Mr. Cotton stated. Thero were eight machines in use, and they easily withstood the rigours of the Labrador winter. On occasions flying was done in a temperature 40 degrees below zero and there were no mishaps. The aeroplanes were put to many interesting uses. They were employed on tho seal grounds in locating schools of seals and reporting their positions to the seal ships. They also carried mails and provisions to lonely outposts in Labrador. "With the special equipment., the aeroplanes were able to land in snow that could not be walked upon," Mr. Cotton said. "They carried mails and provisions to places where, if the engine had broken down, it would have taken the crew six months to get back to civilisation again. The aeroplanes delivered mails to outposts in five hours when dog teams took 83 days to cover the same ground." The headquarters of the company were at Botwood, in Newfoundland, near to tho Grand Falls. Operations were carried on until 1924, and when the Newfoundland Government refused to subsidise the company its activities ceased. Mr. Cotton believes that with properlyequipped machines it is easier to fly in the ice arid snow country. "There are i so many more landing places," he said. He believes that explorers will not have I the slightest difficulty in reaching the North Pole with machines such as were j used in Labrador. During the four i years' operations in Newfoundland and Labrador there was not one serious mishap. Mr. Cotton emphasised the value of aeroplanes in countries such as Labrador, and stated they were the only satisfactory means of traversing the. countries. "There is a great futuro for flying in Australia," stated Mx. Cotton, "and a great future for Australia if flying is adopted there.. The aeroplane to-day is at the stage the motor-car was 20 years ago. I believe that in 20 years the aeroplane will have developed to a far greater extent than the motor-car has."