NEW BOMBERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 7

NEW BOMBERS.

FLIGHT TO DOMINION. NEW ZEALAND PILOTS. l ' j VICKERS WELLINGTON 'PLANES (From Our Correspondent.) DUXEDIX, Friday. Plans for the flight from England to New Zealand of a number of Vickers Wellington aircraft for tlie Royal New Zealand Air Force were discussed in an interview to-day by the Minister of - Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. i The Minister stated that the machines would be piloted on the flight I from England by New Zealand officers , at present serving with the Royal Air Force. It was intended to call for volunI teers from New Zealanders who had pained commissions in England, and it , w as hoped that there would be a sufficient response to have all the machines piloted by men from the Dominion who would subsequently be available for ser- | vice in New Zealand. ■ In addition, it was intended to send } J'P to 30 airmen to England for specialised training in order that they might . complete the crews of the new" aircraft ,on the flight to New Zealand. Their I duties would comprise servicing, mainI tenance and other incidental work, j Mr. Jones was unable to give an exact • elate for the arrival of the Vickers Wel- ■ lington machines in New Zealand. I The oO \ ickers Wellington bombers were one of the chicf items in the Gov- ; eminent s defence programme announced lasu May. Formidable monoplanes, heavily armed and capable of flying a great distance, non-stop, they will cost a total of £700,000. including equipment. An outstanding feature of their design is that they are built on the "geodetic" principle, which permits drastic weight reductions without any loss of strength. It is possible that the machines, which will be stationed at Ohakea. near Feilding, and at Auckland, will make the night from England in three or four "hops." The work at Ohakea should be completed early next year, and Mr. Jones has stated that by'that time there , should be no difficulty in obtaining dej li\eiy of the initial batch of aircraft.