MAIN 'DROMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 271, 15 November 1934, Page 5

MAIN 'DROMES.

DEVELOPMENT WORK.

NEW HANGAR AT WIGRAM.

COTTAGES AT HOBSONVTIXE.

Coincident with the Government's plan for laying out emergency landing grounds for aeroplanes in both islands of the Dominion Is a scheme for the further development of the two principal aerodromes at Wigram (Christchurch) and Hobsonville (Auckland). At the Hobsonville base much valuable work has been going on in recent months to make all in readiness for the housing and working of one or two of the large army bombing 'planes to arrive in New Zealand in February.

The Public Works Department has accepted a tender for a new hangar at Wigram. That work the Minister of Defence, Mr. Cobbe, stated in Wellington, was in line with what was being done at Hobsonville in preparedness for the new machines. Still further undertakings were to be carried out at Hobsonville. The Public Works Department had, at the instance of the Government, let a tender for the erection of 10 cottages at that base for married airmen. For New Bombing 'Planes. "The work of building the new hangar at Wigram," said Mr. Cobbe, "will be commenced almost at once. This building has been designed to house mainly the Vildobeeste bombing 'planes to be unshipped in the Dominion in February. The hangar is to be 180 ft by 90ft. Its foundations, floors and walls are to be of reinforced concrete. The building will be well lit with steel-frame windows from (ift above the ground along the front, rear and one end. These windows are to be glazed with wired glass along the front of the hangar and at the rear doorH. Plain glaes will be utilised elsewhere in order to minimise fire risk.

"A 'special feature of the building will be the cantilever opening doors along the hangar front. These doors are to be motor operated, and arranged to open in about CO seconds, either separately or collectively, as required. The rear doors are to be of the manually-operated sliding type. The roof structure will bo of steel covered with corrugated asbestos sheets. The hangar will incorporate some of the latest improvements in this type of building, making for efficiency in the handling and care of aircraft." Ten Six-roomea Cottages. Mr. Cobbe said that the additional work to be carried out at Hobsonville was in the construction of ten airmen's cottages. They had been designed to provide all reasonable amenities and comfort for the married personnel to be stationed at Hobsonville. "These two aerodromes —Wigram and Hobsonville —when finished," added Mr. Cobbe, "will be modern buildings of the kind, and should greatly -aid the AilForce in its efficient working."