AIRPORT A REALITY

Evening Star, Issue 20312, 22 October 1929, Page 7

AIRPORT A REALITY

First Plane Lands Perfectly

Avro - Avian’s Unexpected Arrival

Flying Man Praises Green Island Site

The Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) was looking out of his window at tho Town Kali when he saw his air visitor travelling at an altitude of l,6Uoft above Princes street. According to the plans the mayor should have teen at Green Island. A helter skelter rush started, and in a few minutes the cars were lacing through Caversham towards Breen Island. Some of the drivers riiuost emulated the German Carri■ola in his driving in the famous Ulster race in their efforts to reach the landing ground quickly. Tho arrival of the plane was watched hv only a few spectators, and they wore treated to a glorious exhibition of landing. Surveying the runway, Captain Bolt made an S turn into the n ind, and glided down on to the coming to rest without a bump, it Has a perfect landing. Almost a year lias gone since an aeroplane last hovered over Dunedin, the interest of the people very vividly reminding one of the cartoon in which tli 3 crowds are shown watching the passing of the first motor car, and their modern indifference to the stream >i vehicular traffic. The cartoon depicts a plane tho cynosure of all eyes, mid the unwatehed stunting of a busy dr fleet ten years hence. All in Dunedin who heard the plane this morning uished out into the streets to crane their necks to watch the visitor sail by. The silver plane made a'pretty sight, silhouetted against the cloudy isky But those who visited the aerodrome had cogitations on the future of air traffic forced upon them. Less than half a mile from the centre of Green Island is the airport, vested in the city by the donor (Mr Charles Todd). The gift of 108 acres is a gift to posterity by a man who lias visualised the progress of air traffic and its wonderful future. Perhaps in but a few years the airport will be too small for the incoming and outgoing fleets of planes, and the people will view the journeyings of the “sky pilots” with a dispassionate and nonchalant eye. Owned by the Godwin-Chichester Aviation Company, Ltd., the Ayro-Avian lias toured the dominion, spending sonic lime at each town, developing the air sense of the public. Her arrival at the iairport to-day was quite an event for ;the Otago Aero Club, which is still a “planeless” body. Captain Bolt’s enthusiasm over the ground and its potentialities was encouraging, and the interest evidenced in the flight of the Avro indicated an intense public confidence in the future of flying. The plane is a neat craft. On the official register she appears as “ZK-AAN,” which letters are boldly marked on her silver fusilage and under her wings. Equipped with, an 80-90 h.p. engine, the Avro-Avian is capable of attaining a maximum speed of 100 miles per hour, but for cruising most efficiency is obtained at about seventy miles per hour. Her landing speed is about 40 rn.p.li. in length the plane is 24ft, and the wing span is 28ft. The wings, however, are of the collapsible type, and when folded close in to the fusilage the

Dunedin’s airport at Green Island actually came into being this morning.

Making a perfect landing, Captain George Bolt, in his AvroAvian Moth plane, arrived at the airport shortly before noon, having left the Welcoming Committee in consternation in the city, viewing bis passing by instead of his a rival.

A telegram from Oamaru this morning advised that Captain Bolt would be leaving the North Otago centre at 11 o’clock, but the officials of the Dunedin Aero Club waited for confirmation of his departure. Arrangements were m hand for the official party to be at the airport on tune. There was some perturbation when tho drone of the engine was heard and all eves turned skyward.

piano can be hoifsed in a shed 9ft din wide. She is of dual control. Leaving Oamaru at 10.55, Captain Bolt climbed over the low clouds an the hills about Dunedin, and descended to 1,600 ft to pass over the city. He landed at Green Island at 11.55, just an hour after his departure from Oamaru, which is considered a comfortable three hems’ drive by motor from Dunedin. “ I did not take very ich notice of it,” replied Captain Bolt v.hen be was asked if he hacl given the southjn endowment area a look over.” A proposal has been made by Mr John Loudon that the area should be reclaimed and reserved for an air port, but already practical flying men have condemned the suggestion. “ I k’.ow the place, but 1 do not think theie is enough runway into the prevailing wind, the nor’-easter,” said Captain Bolt, who added that he wo-dd make a closei inspection of the endowment area later on. “This will make a good airport,” said Captain Bolt of the Gncn Island land. He suffered, however, that me runway tow irds the -ea at the lurtnei end of the properly would need to be rolled. The run vny prepared lor tho p:ane to-day was in excellent order, ami on landing after several flights, the plane was brought to rest gently. There was not a bump on the long runway. Captain Bolt was welcomed by a big official party, which included the mayor, Cr J. J. Clark (chairman of the Finance Committee, which is dealing largely with the gift of land), Mr G. J. Errington (president of tho Expansion League), Flight-lieutenant Hughes (club captain), and Mr H. M. Mackay (secretary, representing the Aero Club. The arrival was most opportune for tho Green Island school children, many of whom, as soon as school was dismissed for the lunch hour, scampered across country to the air port, where the police officers in attendance had a busy time keeping tho youngsters away from the machine and off the runway when the plane was landing. To the watchers it war. clear that little effort would bo needed to develop in the children a keen air sense. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen a plane on the ground,” said one small boy, who immediately commenced a thorough survey of the construction and array of gadgets in the cockpit. A constable bnv to a sudden end his trip of exploration. On the slightest inducement any one of the small army of boys would have taken a seat in tlio plane for a flight. After unloading some luggage stowed in a locker aft of the main cockpit, 'Captain Bolt took up Mr Mackay. the Aero Club’s secretary, on the initial flight of a plane from the airport. Other officials were taken for short spins.

The plane is to be located at Green Island for some time, and arrangements are being made for Captain Bolt to engage in passenger flights.