FUTURE OF FLYING

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 19, 22 July 1932, Page 9

FUTURE OF FLYING

NEEDS OP AERODROILES

ADVANTAGE OF SPEED

A strong recommendation, that in providing for future requirements attention should be_given to the. laying out of aerodromes was made by Squadron-Leader J. I>. Findlay, officer commanding the Wigram Aerodrome, in' an address to the Christchurch branch of the Town Planning Institute (states the "Christchurch Times").

The lecturer said that in the past the tendency had been to regard aviation as a dangerous fbnn of entertainment. But there was no doubt that flying could now take its place as a means of transport. The establishment of aerodromes would become a function of the 'municipalities. .. If the sites were not procured or earmarked now near the towns the ground would either be built over or become so .costly as to make it prohibitive. CHIEF ENEMY NON-EXISTENT. The principal-advantage'of flying as a mj!?. n?. of ..transport was the speed. In addition, the aeroplane went by the shortest route. It went literally as the. crow mes. Christchurch would-be in the; line of north-south air traffic without any deviation from the direct route, and it would be a natural refilling port.. Ulustrafang the Bpeed of travel by air,. he mentioned that the trip: from Diinedin to Ohristchurch had been made in si?tyseven^mihutes; to Hokitika and back (in an old Moth) in two and a half hours; and to Auckland in three hours forty minu itV ail and Parcel services would probably precede the passenger services, lie climate in New Zealand was favourable for flying. The chief-enemy to, fly•"S—tog—was almost non-existent. . Before flying could be properly developed there must, be a network of aerodromes throughout the country.^ The visit of Sir Kingsiord Smith had given a great impetus to the provision of aerodromes.. ■" .. AERODROME REQUIREMENTS. There were two types of aerodromes —ono. that \yould serve the purposes of any kind of aeroplane and one that would serve only light' aeroplanes. The minimum required for the former aerodrome—which should ■be the only type considered- in Christchurch—was 600 yards in each direction. It was better to have'it 800 yards or even 1000 yards if possible.. An-area 800 yards in, all -directions would make a really first-class aerodrome, provided there were no obstructions round it. ;The size of the aerodrome should be increased by ten times'; the height of ' any obstruction round it. Some' people thought that aeroplanes of the future would be able to land in less space than at present, but he' did not agrea with that view. ..The tendency since the war had 'been in the other direction. He could- not see any commercial future for- the autogiro, which could'be made for ordinary aeroplanes of fast type that required a greater landing ground. A firm, smooth surface was needed. An,easy way to estimate whether a ground was suitable as a landing ground was to drive a light car over it at a speed of twenty miles an hour. At that 6peed passengers should be able to ride in comfort and the wheels" of the car, even after heavy rain, should riot sink in more than an inch.' A porous soil with good natural drainage was desirable. / It was by no means a disadvantage to have "an aerodrome with'a slight rise towards the centre of the ground.- .. J LAND AND SEAPLANE BASES. He did mot consider, 'that-: seaplanes and flying-boats. Svould ~be more suitable for New Zealand than .aeroplanes. The disadvantages, of >eaplanes...were' so- many that he could not see them being used m New: Zealand for, internal purposes. A machine' with, a land undercarriage was considerably faster than a seaplane of the sama horse-power, and., could eUmb "better. vyitn the modern aero engine there was scant, risk ■6f-a"-forced'•landing: For long overseas flightST-say,, between here and Australia—flying-boats would probably be needed. For that reason he saw no reason why a seaplane station should riot be made on .the Estuary. : .The, requirement for such a station- was:a mile, of water•;of a minimum depth of .six feet. It would be advantageous to'Eavo both- a land andi seaplane', base at the same place; There was the necessary, flat land near the -Estuary, but at present he'thought it was too boggy. ;■..' •■ \ ■■■"■'■ ■■■- -.'■''■