THE AIR AMBULANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 111, 7 November 1933, Page 8

THE AIR AMBULANCE

SELECTION OF MACHINE

FULL INQUIRIES MADE

REASONS FOR DECISION

A correspondent,'' Ex-Aviator,'' criticises the executive of tho Wellington Aero Club over its purchase of the Waco ambulance aeroplane. .

"They calmly praise this machine up in ' such a way' as to persuade the 'ignorant' members of Wellington's population that its performance is marvellous," ho writes, "but we are not all ignorant; the official', figures' must speak :'Horse:power,2io; cruising speed, 115 m.p.h.; maximum speed, 135 m.p.h.; landing speed, 60' m.p.h. Its - petrol consumption is approximately 12 gallons per hour, the'view forward is not very good, and the noise is unpleasant." "Ex-Aviator" denies that'no' English machineyis suitable and mentions one machine which he states is designed for seven different jobs, including ambulance work. There are three other English machines which he considers superior. For. the club officials to' consider the Dragon Moth he considers to be stupid, for "if they go that far they might as well consider a Handley Page '42E' or an Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta." The correspondent continues: "Certainly the information which they, (the club officials) supplied to 'The Post' looks nice and crusty, but I warn you. It is cunningly worded and exceedingly inaccurate in its specifications," and in- conclusion he. regrets that, ho is unable to write over his own name. SPEEDS, ETC. The :statement which appeared in Friday's "Post" regarding the new Waco machine was written not by the club, officials, but by, a member of '<The Post" staff from the publications ofr the manufacturers of the machine, obtained, of course, from the; Aero Club office. If tho wording is cunning, therefore, the credit, or-, otherwise, for such writing is not-to-be given to any officials of tho -Aero Club. . "ExAviator's" official figures do not agree with the official figures contained -in the maker's specifications except in regard to horse-power,-210, for the other figures are: Cruising, speed 125 m.pih., maximum speed 140. m.p.h., and landing speed 49 m.p.h. It is claimed that tho visibility from the cabin is particularly good. ' - ' ■ In. the March and May issues of "Flight,", tho official' organ of the Royal Aero Club, England, particulars are given of the .English,machine which "Ex-Aviator" specially mentions. In this machine the pilot sits in an open cockpit, separated, from the passenger ca,bin; in which is accommodation for three passengers, .: two' facing forward and the third, facing the tail ■of the machine. The. length, of' the cabin, is approximately, six feet.at- 'floor level. The, horse-power is 120, the cruising speed 90. to. 95 m.p.h., and' the maxinuftn speed is 110 m.p.h. , The landing speed is not stated. , . . ,' PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS. Today the reporter who wrote the article which appeared last Friday discussed the matter with the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, who -is president of the Aero Club. Mr. Hislop said that tho executive had gpno into the question of a new machine most .fully, and its members, and in fact every member of the club, had been most anxious to secure a British machine had a machine which was considered to be equally suitable by the club's experts and also by'other experts of the highest standing in • the Dominion been obtainable from England at a figure approaching the price of theWaeo. Unfortunately the inquiries, extending over several weeks'and fentailing considerable expense in cabling, had not substantiated the hopes that a British machine fulfilling the' cluVs requirements—particularly /as regards ambulance equipment—could be secured. This ' special equipment, Mr. Hislop added, is normally carried in a special compartment in the fuselage, and outwardly the machine is simply a passenger machine, but when required the stretcher is immediately. available and in use will rest on supports in the rear of tho cabin, leaving-the two front seats available for pilot and a passenger. . The term '.'ambulance aeroplane" might perhaps give the impression that the machine was, an ambulance oufrand out, but that wasnot.so,,though when it was so required ■ the facilities would be immediately available. "'"And in arriving-at its decision to buy this particular machine,".said Mr. Hislop, "the*club.was guided, not by ex-aviators, but by its, own and other experts who , are active aviators,. whose interest ifc is to endeavour to _ keep abreast of the developments-in aviation today. Their inquiries led them to tho conclusion that there was not available, within the finances of the .club, an English machine offering the' facilities given by the model.chosen."