AIR BOMBERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 130, 4 June 1935, Page 3

AIR BOMBERS.

AUCKLAND TRIALS.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL PRESENT

TWO NEW MACHINES FLOWN. The first visit he has paid to the Hobsonville air base was made by the Governor-General, Lord Galway, this morning, when two of the new Vickers Vildebeest bombing aircraft were flown in further trials. The demonstration was also attended by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, the General Officer commanding the_ New Zealand forces, Major-General Sir W. L. H. Sinclair-Burgess, Colonel J. H. Duigan, officer commanding the Northern Command, Captain the Hon. E. R. Drummond, Commodore of the New Zealand Division or the Royal Navy, and Wing-Commander T. M. Wilkes, director of aviation in New Zealand.

On arrival Lord Galway was met by Squadron-Leader L. M. lsitt, officer in charge of the base, and a Royal salute was given. His Excellency then inspected a guard of honour formed uy various details at the "base, under the command of Flight-Lieutenant S. Wallingford. Previously Major-General Sinclair-Burgess had been accorded a general salute, and had also made an inspection. His Excellency was attended by Major A. F. Purvis and Captain A. G. W. Heber-Percy. After inspection of the guard, the vice-regal party, followed by the Ministerial party, visited the seaplane hangar and slipway, inspecting the Fairey HIF machine and the Cutty Sark Hying boat. Two of the four Vildebeest machines, which had been assembled, were then lined up with three Moths outside the new hangar for land 'planes. One of the Vildcbeests was one which had been flown in a previous test by SquadronLeader leitt, while the assembly of the other had just been completed, and it had not been in the air.

The engine of the untested machine wae warmed up, and then SquadronLeader lsitt took off in it, followed immediately by Flight-Lieutenant Wallingford with the other 'plane. Both machines, which are built to carry heavy military loads, and were unloaded, took off with astonishingly short runs, and showed quick climbing powers. After gaining height, they crossed and recrossed the aerodrome, swooping down low over the vice-regal party. Squadron-Leader lsitt then landed, and Flight-Lieutenant Wallingford, after diving low twice across the field, followed down as eoon as the landing ground was clear. Throughout the exhibition great interest in the machines and their performance was ehown by the GovernorGeneral and members of the other official parties, while the tests were also keenly scrutinised by Sir Keith Smith, who was present on behalf of Vickers (Aircraft), Ltd., the builders of the 'planes. All seemed impressed with the very short runs the machines required for botli taking off and landing, and with the case with which they could be manoeuvred.

The Vildebeests are powered by ninecylindered Bristol Pegasus engines, developing 920 horse-power, and started with an 'inertia starter. To cope with the hea-vy loads to be carried for military purposes, they are fitted with very large air-screws, revolving at a comparatively low rate, so that the blades can be seen revolving while the machine ii flying at a cruising speed. Each machine carries a crew of three, the pilot being seated in front of the wings, and a machine-gunner and radio operator in the rear cockpits. In this morning's tests only the pilot was carried. The 'planes are"fitted with wheel brakes, which greatly aesist manoeuvring on the ground.