OCEAN FLIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 22

OCEAN FLIGHTS

THE RADIO SERVICE

TWO STRINGS TO BOW

MUSICK MEMORIAL CENTRE

(By Telegr tph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July a. Though permanent buildings for housing plant vlll not be available for | some time, it is expected that the Musick Memorial Radio Centre at Buckland's Beach will be functioning next month. Designed primarily for the use of trans-ocean aircraft, the station will not only provide a modern radio service on short-wave and/ telephonic 'bands, but it will also contain highly (efficient direction-finding equipment. The construction of temporary facilities to house the plant has been undertaken by the Public Works Department. The receiver is at the southern end of the peninsula, while, about two miles and a half away, a similar wooden building is provided above the eastern beach for transmitting apparatus. Apart from one technician at the transmitter station, the staff will be centred at the receiver, and cable has been laid between the- two units to enable the transmitting apparatus to be remotely controlled. The station will provide terminal facilities for air services. A point-to-point short-wave service with Sydney is planned immediately, and later it is intended to make a similar arrangement with some Pacific stations, such as Suva. Full radio equipment is carried by present-day flying-boats, and the station will maintain a shortwave service with them over a normal range of 600 miles. However, if necessary, direct communication will be available over a much wider radius. There will also be a radio telephone system between aircraft and the station, not only for the guidance of pilots when near Auckland, but also as an alternative to the short-wave service. CO-OPERATION WITH AWARUA,

As a result, a radio expert said, two strings would be provided to the bow, and another safeguard added. Di-rection-finding apparatus on the customary medium-wave band will be operated, but, as an added precaution, the same service will be furnished on short-wave.

With similar equipment at the Awarua radio station, near Bluff, it is hoped that the co-operation of the two centres will enable the authorities actually to plot the position of transocean flying-boats.

. With the exception of the mediumwave transmitter, all plant is now in New Zealand, ready for erection. Much detailed work of a highly technical nature is involved in this task, and a specialist engineer of the i*adio division of the Post and Telegraph Department is to arrive Srora Wellington to assist Auckland authorities.

Four steel towers, each 75ft, will carry aerials attached to the transmitter. Two of these have already been erected, and steps are now being taken to raise the remaining masts, which will be 150 ft in height. Comparatively smaller towers will be required for the receiving unit.

The early introduction of the transTasman air service has expedited proposals for the operation of the station. Temporary facilities provided by the Public Works Department will enable the plant to function efficiently, and, with plans now being prepared for permanent buildings, it is expected that the scheme envisaged as a memorial to Captain Musick and the crew of the Samoan Clipper will be completed in less than a year.