AVIATION BOOMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 75, 30 March 1929, Page 11

AVIATION BOOMS.

AUSTRALIA WATCHES THE AIR IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS PLANNED. WORLD FLIGHTS IMMINENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 22. Interest in civil aviation matters at the present time in Sydney is at f op pitch. There have been many innovations and the general public is taking a greater interest in aviation than ever before. First and foremost in the public mind is the projected flight of the famous airmen, Kingsford Smith and Ulm, to England. Daily their huge Fokker monoplane hovers over the city, swooping down at times, it seems almost to t'lo tops of the tall buildings. The partners are testing their liig 'plane before they make their hop-off t<i England. Adverse weather conditions at various landing places in Australia is at present holding them up, but they have announced that the flight will commence before the end of the month at the latest. An example of the ramifications which their flight to England involves, is given by the fact that before they could hop off it was necessary to get into touch with governments, rulers and tribal chiefs controlling various tracts across which the Southern Cross will fly. Permission had to be sought from each one of these bodies and individuals in order that annoying delays should not occur when the flight is in progress. Last communication was received a few days ago from the Persian Government giving the airmen permission to land in various parts of that country. The flight of Moir and Owen, who are attempting to break Bert Hinkler's record flight of 16 days from England, is also occasioning a considerable amount of public interest, and their daily movements are watched with avidity. Night Flying. An Innovation in Australia this week will be a series of night flying, passen-ger-carrying journeys made by Pilot Shortridge, a member of the N.S.W. Aero Club. Night flying in Austen lift hag

hitherto been out of ti>e que-tion owing to the question of air beacons. Landing and taking off, as well ;i> general coursesetting, is difficult in the dark, but the Aero Club has erected at Mascot aerodrome a set of air beacons and searchlights which will be when Pilot Shortridge makes his night flights with passengers. His 'plane will be lit with flares, and already in a number of test flights which lie had carried out alone, the efficacy of the innovations has been proved. The wings of his machine, a Gipsy Moth, will be lit with flares, and the machine will present a weird sight as it soars over the city and suburbs at night. The Aero Club aims at establishing a chain of aerodromes and landing grounds equipped with lights for landing and taking off at night. A series of powerful air beacons throughout the country and along the coast is also proposed. The Federal Government, in conjunction with the States, is also moving in making improvement? to recognised aerodromes such as Mascot and Richmond. Elaborately iitted-up workshops capable of handling all sorts of mechanical work in connection with aeroplanes and seaplanes are being constructed, on the grounds while skilled workmen are being

trained exclusively in fuselage construe 'ion and repair work.

Important developments have also been made in the last week or two in Mie perfection of wireless telephony between aeroplanes whilst in the air. During an Aero Club aerial picnic last Saturday, pilots and passengers in two adjacent 'plai.es as well as in other ma - chines in the flight talked freely to each other by means of wireless. While the flock of aeroplanes were in the air their pilots and passengers d' = - cussed among themselves, through the radio telephone, possible landing groundwhire they could alight and spieai: their afternoon tea cloths. Several shin* 350 miles a*;iy reported having heard the conversations. Further experiments are being carried out this week-end with a view to perfecting the selectivity of the sets used in the aeroplanes. Meanwhile, the Defence Department, eontrollor of military aviation, has not been idle. Two shipments of modern fighting and scouting 'planes are now on the seas for the Australian Air Force. and when these machines are landed and assembled an aerial pageant, it ha* been announced, will be staged over Sydney, which will outrival any ever before seen by Australia.