HEAVIER PLANES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 107, 8 May 1941, Page 7

HEAVIER PLANES

FIELD STRENGTHENED

XEff METHOD AT UIGKAM

<0.C.) CHRISTCHURCH. this day In order to strengthen the bearing power of the surface layers of soil without injury <o" the good sole of grass, a modern system has been adopted for the stabilisation of the Wigram aerodrome. The landing field of the Royal New Zealand Air Force station is strengthened to take the weight of heavier machines and the new method has been adopted to maintain the grass surface whi)e the soil is being stabilised. So far. 40 acr'is of the 50 acres of new aerodrome lying to the southwest of the old field of the station have been tilled and stabilised, the new work having proved entirely satisfactory to the Public Works Department- The maior work to be undertaken is the stabilisation of the main field, for which a different technique will have to be used. The main principle of aerodrome stabilisation, as now being practised at Wigram. is to roll a very thin layer of crushed stone, no more or less than three-quarters of an inch in diameter, into the ground, fine metal and over-sized stones being screened out. The stones are driven into the turf without injury-, to any extent, to the roots of the grasses. No lifting of turf nr disfigurementof the field is caused. Solidity is given under the surface by the stones being very close together. because of their evenness in size! The weight-bearing strength of the ground is particularly improved in wet weather.