"THE LAST WORD"

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 42, 17 August 1935, Page 10

"THE LAST WORD"

NEW TEAMING 'PLANES

FOR TERRITORIAL FORCE

For some years, from the inception of the air arm in the Dominion, in fact, the New Zealand (Territorial) Air Force has been handicapped in its training by inadequate equipment, both in the types of machines available and in the accessories for training in the several branches of Air Force work, combat, navigation, and reconnaissance, photography, mapping, wireless communication, etc. For some years a great part of the training was carried out at Auckland and Christchurch on war-time 504R Avros, but these were scrapped some years ago, since when the mainstay of the Territorial Air Force fleet has been the old Bristol Fighter, 1917 type, helped out by the more modern, but now obsolescent, Hawker Tomtits. The 1917 Bristol Fighter was a leader in its time, but is now completely outclassed in design £.nd performance, and to a somewhat less degree this is also true of the Hawker Tomtit.

All round efficiency was, practically, beyond achievement with such machines and with the very limited equipment with which they were fitted or .were able to carry as additions to their standard fittings. Now the Territorial Air Force is entering upon a considerably more advanced stage, 4or the first two of four Avro 626 machines, representing the most modern developments in training machines, are on the water and should be in commission in New Zealand within the next three months. ALL TYPES OF TRAINING. The Avro 626 is specially designed for complete advanced instruction in military flying and training, including the operation of all normal armament equipment. The fuselage is of unusual construction and design in that there are three cockpits, only two of which are used at one time, to permit the accommodation of armament or equipment for each of the following branches of training:— Dual-control flying instruction. Blind and night flying. Offensive gunnery, with Vickers gun, or camera gun. Defensive gunnery with Vickers, or camera gun. Bombing by observer, prone position. Bombing by pilot. Wireless telegraphy and telephony.' Photography. Navigation. Message picking-up. The Avro 626 training machine is an equal span, single bay biplane, the wing structure being different from that of any machine at present in the Dominion, for it consists of two built-up spans of sheet steel with pressed light metal ribs, fabric covered. The fuselage is of welded steel tube construction. The engine is a 275 h.p. A. S. Cheetah MICV. The main measurements are:—Span, 34ft; length, 26ft 6in; height, 9ft 7in. | The Avro trainer has a maximum speed of 130 m.p.h. and a cruising speed of 108 m.p.h. The landing speed is low, 50 m.p.h. The rate of climb is 1000 feet per minute and the- service ceiling is 16,800 feet.