FIJI'S FIRST 'PLANE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 256, 29 October 1929, Page 8

FIJI'S FIRST 'PLANE.

PRIVATELY-OWNED MOTH.

BOUGHT BY A SOLICITOR

HOPES OF INTER-ISLAND SERVICE,

Although the sight of an aeroplane is not unfamiliar to the people of Fiji, it will be something of a thrill —until the novelty wears off —to have a machine stationed at the island. A Gipsy Moth 'plane, pui chased by Mr. N. S. Chalmers, a solicitor in Fiji, who arrived in Auckland by the Ulimaroa this morning after a six months' tour of the world, was delivered at Suva by the Ruapeliu some days ago. It is M r - Chalmers' intention to use the machine for travelling between towns and settlements on the island.

"It takes about three days to travel from Ba, where I have my practice, to Suva," explained Mr. Chalmers. "Further, it is impossible to travel by night, because there is always the danger of striking the reef. With a 'plane though, I shall be able to go to Suva in less than two hours —it is about 150 miles from Ba. There are plenty of good landing grounds on the island —the recreation ground at Suva (where Kingsford-Smith landed on his trans-Pacific flight), racecourses at Sigatoka, Ba and Nadi, and cricket grounds at Nadi and Lautoka. Later on, I hope to fit floats to the Moth, converting her into an amphibian. A manufacturing firm at Rochester is at present designing an all-metal light seaplane constructed of material which will resist the action of sea water. They will probably supply me with the floats." The machine which Mr. Chalmers has bought is the most modern Moth turned out by the De Havilland Company. When he was in England a few months ago, Mr. Chalmers visited the D.H. works at Stag Lane, about eight miles from London. There he spent ten days learning how to make small repairs; this work he will have to do himself.

"Stag Lane aerodrome is a dangerous place," said Mr. Chalmers. "It is very close to Hendon, the big military air base, and the air for miles around the two landing-grounds is constantly alive with 'planes. Many private 'plane owners keep their machines at Stag Lane, and it is also the London Flying School's headquarters. There are really four bases in the district—Stag Lane, where all the De Havilland 'planes are tested, the London Flying School, Hendon Aerodrome, and the dozens of private machines. There are rules of the road, of course, but even so it is often difficult to find enough space to shoot down to earth. I have hovered over the landing-ground for over a quarter of an hour waiting for a chance to come down. It was here that Captain White, D.H.'s chief instructor, and a passenger, collided in mid-air with Captain Boyle; all three were killed."

When he returns to Suva, Mr. Chalmers hopes to interest the Fijian Government in flying, with the object of establishing services for mails, and passengers if possible, between the towns and islands in the group. "It would be a boon to have an air service down there," he said.