NEW HANGAR AT WIGRAM

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21320, 13 November 1934, Page 10

NEW HANGAR AT WIGRAM

Contract for City Builder SCHEME FOR BIGGER AIR FORCE

The Public Works Department has accepted the tender of Mr Chas. S. Luney, of Christchurch, for the erection of the new No. 2 hangar at Wigram Aerodrome. The hangar will be the largest and most up-to-date in New Zealand, and the contract price is about £20,000. Amongst several contractors who submitted estimates for the work, were some from other parts of New Zealand.

The No. 2 hangar will house four of the Vickers Vildebeeste torpedobomber aeroplanes which the Government has decided to import from England for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and also four Avro 626 aeroplanes which will be secured for training work by the New Zealand Territorial Air Force. The building will be appointed with every modern device for expeditious working and will have ample floor space for the storing of machines. An important feature indicative of the comparative size uf the new hangar is the unusually long frontal 'span, which will be 100 feet clear of supports. The depth Will be 90 feet. In the hangars at present in use the dimensions are 80ft by 60ft. At the back of the new building will be a lean-to, 90ft by 20ft, which will be used for offices and stores.

The new canopy doors to be used will be the first of their type in New Zealand. These doors, operated electrically, are hinged at the top and lift up and out. There will be nine of them, each 20 feet long, so that when opened they will provide a wide verandah along the whole front of the building. This will enable work to be done inside the hangar in wet weather with the doors opened.

New Type of Root' The hangar will have walls and foundations of reinforced concrete, with structural steel roof trusses. There will be extensive provision for panel windows to provide ample light for inside work. The floors will be of concrete. Instead of the usually curved type of roof, 'he new hangar will be roofed by a series of gabled roofs, covered with 'corrugated asbestos sheeting. In this respect the design will be a distinct departure from the older type of hangar. It is intended that the new hangar will be the standard type for the Air Force throughout New Zealand. The construction of this hangar is the first step of a comprehensive scheme for improving the appointments at Wigram, following the Government's decision to build up both the personnel and equipment of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the New Zealand Territorial Air Force. The building programme provides for the erection at Wigram of accommodation for a considerably increased staff, new engine repair shops, aircraft repair shops, a general store and quarters for other branches of the personnel. The whole plan will provide work for many workmen and business for many tradesmen in the city. The new hangar is expected to employ for six months between 80 and 100 men including labourers, structural steel workers and other tradesmen.

Mr Luney is at present working on another important contract for the Public Works Department—the erection of two villas for patients at the Templeton Mental Farm. When completed these buildings will accommodate 100 patients. He will also erect the reinforced concrete water tower at the farm. Recently he completed the contract for a big sub-station at Timaru, as part of the Wailaki reticulation.