BRITISH AIR FORCE MACHINES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 15

BRITISH AIR FORCE MACHINES

Development “Absolutely Staggering;” CAPTAIN TAYLOR TALKS OF AIRCRAFT TRENDS Dominion Special Service. Auckland, April 4. The opinion that had the plans of the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith for the operation of a trans-Tasman air service been put into effect he would be alive to-day and the service would have been running for three years now, w'as expressed by Captain P. C. Taylor. Captain Taylor, who was an associate of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, was a through passenger in the Niagara and is returning to Australia after a four months’ tour of England and America. Captain Taylor has acquired during his trip complete knowledge of many important developments in aircraft construction. He arrived in England in December, his main purpose being to investigate the most recent aircraft developments made with regard to aircraft types and airport construction. He also paid the visit to arrange details of Australian representation for certain British aviation materials, mainly Percival machines. While abroad Captain Taylor also investigated other machines and flyingboats. He was interested in various types used in the Air Force, the perfection of which, he said, was absolutely staggering. Development in America, in civil types particularly, was considerable and pointed toward greater employment of high altitude transports with air pressure-controlled cabins and' travelling at great speeds. "I also saw some huge flying-boats, to which there is no predictable limit in size,” said Captain Taylor. “For flying-boats therd’ seems to be no limit to size, whereas the land machine appears to have limits because of the size of landing grounds and the weight and complications of landing gear. The flying-boat has practically nothing to offer from the point of view of safety in an emergency landing at sea. Consequently the designing of aircraft has been toward a type that simply will not be forced to land at sea.”

The impression Captain Taylor gained as the result of his investigations was that in service aviation the Royal Air Force had nothing to fear from any other air force in the world. In civil aviation America was considerably ahead of any other country. Performance in some of the recent Royal Air Force service machines was something absolutely staggering. Referring to Pacific flights, Captain Taylor said he saw tfffe China Clipper arrive at Alameda and he took the opportunity of inspecting the machine and equipment. He was very struck with the thoroughness and efficiency of the manner in which the machine was operated.

“My future plans really depend on the future of trans-ocean services in the Tasman and Pacific and any part I may be able to play in them.” said Captain Taylor. “I have no idea when the 'Tasman services are likely to start. There are no difficulties and there have not been any other than political ones which have delayed their inauguration.” Captain Taylor was impressed by the sight of British and American flags flying quite close to one another on Canton Island as the Niagara passed the island on her voyage to New Zealand. Whatever the outcome of the situation at Canton Island, he said, it was a good thing it was the United States Britain was dealing with, as no doubt a friendly solution would be found to the difficulty. The importance of the Phoenix Group was realised by Sir Charles. Kingsford Smith and himself when they flew over the islands in 1934. A recommendation was then made to the Australian Government that the islands should be established as British flying-boat bases.