THE AIR AGE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 29, 29 October 1928, Page 11

THE AIR AGE

ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT A REALITY BIG BRITISH COMPANY TO BE FORMED TO DEVELOP CIVIL AVIATION A big company to develop civil aviation visualises a Britain of tlie immediate future whose citizens will take tlie air as they now take tlie roads. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Rec. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 27. The “Daily Express” reveals that an attempt to'make the air age a reality is behind a far-reaching scheme of rapid development of civil aviation in Britain. A company on a large scale will presently be floated, headed by Captain F. E. Guest, former Air Minister, and containing prominent figures in aviation, with the Air Ministry taking a live interest in it. Its aims embrace every conceivable branch of aviation. The company will undertake air taxi work and a widespread scale of joy-riding, and trips to holiday resorts. It may also take over the eighteen existing private aeroplane clubs and establish upwards of fifty new instructional clubs in cities and towns, with upwards of 150 fully-euipped aerodromes in systematic chains covering all the flying routes in the kingdom. The machines will be largely standardised, thereby reducing the cost. Briefly, the plans visualise a Britain of the immediate future whose citizens will take the air as they now take the roads. FLIGHT IN AMPHIBIAN TO SMALL ISLAND TEST OF LYONS’S ABILITY AS NAVIGATOR (Rec. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) New York, October 26. It is understood that Lyons, Lancaster, and Mrs. Miller will take off on .Sunday from New York for Ireland Island (Bermudas), in an amphibian euipped with a Wright Whirlwind motor and carrying 250 gallons of petrol. The distance is only 800 miles, but the flight has never been attempted before owing to navigational difficulties in finding so small an island. Lyons’s ability, exhibited in navigating the Southern Cross, is believed to equip him excellently for this undertaking. HURLEY’S START POSTPONED (Rec. October 28, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, October 28. Captain Hurley has postponed his hop off in the Spirit of Australia for England until daybreak on Monday. The delay is due to Flying Officer Owens being unable to obtain three months’ leave from the Air Force in order to join Hurley’s crew as mechanic. RECORD PARIS-TO-LONDON TRIP (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) London, October 26. An Imperial Airways de luxe Arm-strong-Siddeley air liner, with 17 passengers and three of a crew, flew from Paris to London in Ihr. 40min., averaging 135 miles per hour—a record.