AVIATION NEWS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20789, 24 February 1933, Page 17

AVIATION NEWS.

A MEDICAL SERVICE. AIRCRAFT FOR PERSIA. I.k'KOM CiUJJ. OVV* COILKiSBVONO£KT.J LONDON, January G. Something of tlio medical work done by means of aeroplanes in the last i'our years iu yueeuslaud was explained in London the other day to au audience of pilots and medical uieu by L>r. W.-- D. Walker, au Adelaide pliyßiciu.ii who lias spent several yeafb in the Australian interior. He told how the aeroplane moved iu response to urgent calls for lielp which were received at tlio base by wildcat). (small aiid' inexpensive radio traubiuitlers, deriving power from peual-operated generators, were evolved lor distribution aiuong tlie more isolated homesteads, 'i'koir range is 00U miles; thus equipped, the most remote settler knows that lie, can summon immediate lielp should be or his family require it. At first the family operator was obliged to learn Morse, but a recent improvement enables messages to be translated automatically into Morse, and wont' out by simply tapping a keyboard similar to that of a typewriter. Messages received at the central station are retranslated. Medical advice is sent back by wireless, telephone, or, if the case calls for more urgent treatment, a reply goes out that the "flying [doctor" is on his way. White .alieets I spread on the ground and the smoke of a flro are employed to indicato the nearest safe landing place io the invalid's home, and the direction of the wind. In addition to the pilot, the aeroplane used at present is able to carry doctor, nurse, patient (should removal to hospital be necessary), and one other individual. Soon a larger aircraft mav be acquired for the work, and an ancesthctist and complete surgical unit airborne in addition to the load now carried. Further important future developments of the system include the aerial survey of large areas not yet charted and the provision of more landing fields and radio stations. Nation-wide Scheme. In the first year of tho service Dr. St. Vincent Welch flew no fewer than 20,00b miles to attend 255 patients, and held 42 consultations in 26 ,diffcrclit centres. Year by year the work has expanded till now four "flying . doc tors" share the task, between them.' , Much of it is naturally associated with childbirth; the aeroplane has lifted from many women the terrors of maternity without skilled assistance and proper attention. Ultimately the organisers hope to establish a complete national service, provided with a numher Of fully equipped base hospitals which will work together to cover all of the sparsely settled and remote regions of the vast continent. ' Three Squadrons for Persia. Before the end of this month tho first batch, of a big consignment of British single-seater and two-seater fighting aeroplanes acquired for the Persian Air Force will bo uneratod in Teheran. Other batches will b*o sent at intervals over a period of some months till the whole of the contract, aggregating in value approximately £200,000 and a covering full flying equipment for three squadrons, has been fulfilled. Ordered from the Hawker Company by an expert POrsian mission which is still in this country, the aeroplanes colnr. prise one squadron of Fury single-seater biplanes and two squadrons of Audax army co-operation and fighting aircraft similar in structure to tho famous craft of the same types employed in the Royal Air Force, but powered with aircooled Kestrel units fitted to the British service aeroplanes. Before placing the order with the British concern, the Persian Government had already acquired a number of American supercharged 525/575 h.p. motors, and these: will be installed ill the aeroplanes at i the aircraft constructor's works before ; the machines ate. crated for dispatch to Teheran. Though these aircraft will be somewhat slower than the British service types with the water-cooled engines—the service Fury attains 220 m.p.h. aiid the Audax 190 m.p.h.—they will yet be extremely fast and will rank easily among the finest military aeroplanes in the world. Probably the Fury with its air-cooled motor will be found able to outpace any similarly powered aircraft built in the world outside Great Britain. Thus yet another largo government order has gone to a British firm in the face of intense competition from foreign lands. Something like 30 of the national air forces in the world are largely equipped with British flying material, and for 1 ' years the British industry has maintained a lead in export trade. Persia is a difficult countryfor flying, with much mountainous territory and extremes of heat. That British aircraft ■should have been considered by expert observers who need not be suspected of bias most suitable for intensive operation in such conditions is a fresh tribute, to the reputation of the British'product for strength, robustness, and endurance. A motor-bicycle was found in the ; river Avon, opposite Baker street, New Brighton, yesterday, bv two boys returning from school. It is understood that a motor-bicycle was reported to, I the police as being missing, and the owner is being traced.