AIR SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 20862, 4 August 1931, Page 6

AIR SERVICES

DEVELOPMENT IN OTAGO POSSIBILITIES OF WEEK-END TRIPS The future development of air services in Otago, and the possibilities of weekend trips to such .resorts as Wanaka, were touched upon by Mr G. S. Kirby, in the course of conversation with a ‘Star’ reporter This - , Mr Kirby’s privilege last week, at the invitation of Pilot E. J. Hope, to travel by air to Cromwell. Two machines left the Taieri Aerodrome at 10.30 a.m., the other plane being piloted by Flying-officer E. G. Olsen. After a quick- ascent to approximately 2,400 ft, the _ machines headed north, and within twenty minutes were flying over Middlemarch. On account of fog on the Rock and Pillars the machines then turned to the light and followed the Otago Central railway line, passing over Waipiata, llanfurly, and Wedderburn in quick succession. All the way a strong head wind had been encountered, and m places the air was rather bumpy. In a little over an hour after leaving the aerodrome on the Taieri the party was met at Omakau by a third machine piloted by Flight-lieutenant T. W. White, who had left Cromwell a few minutes earlier. In another ten minutes the three machines, flying in formation, were circling over Clyde. The little township on the banks of the Molyueux was a wonderful sight bathed in sunshine. A big climb was then made to a height of over 5,000 ft In order to clear the Old Man Range. The country on top of the range was snow-covered, and presented an imposing spectacle. Ten minutes later the three machines flow over Cromwell and landed at the new aerodrome, exactly an hour and ahalf after leaving the Taieri. The mayor (Mr Roberts) and several citizens welcomed the Otago pilots, after which the party had lunch at Air J. Grant’s Commercial Hotel. After a stay of some two and a-half hours at Cromwell, the machines left at 2.25 p.m., and on the return journey did not climb over the range, but flew through the Cromwell Gorge, and made a landing near Alexandra. The pilots were welcomed by the mayor of that town, and after a stay of forty minutes the two Dunedin machines took the air again at 3.20 p.m. The visibility on the return journey was much better, and with a following wind the planes made great; time. Flying at a height of 6,400 ft, the party reached Middlemarch in twenty minutes. A glorious panorama was then spread out beneath them, embracing as far back as Clyde in the rear, Silver Peaks and Karitane’to the left front, and The Nuggets on the right. Five minutes after leaving Middlemarch they had a beautiful view of Sunshine, Anderson’s Bay, and the Otago Harbour, and ten minutes later circled over the Taieri Plain, and landed at the Otago aerodrome at 4.55, the return journey from Alexandra having thus been completed in thirty-five minutes. The familiar roads and towns of the Central took on an added interest as viewed from the air, and, while one was ablo to distinguish certain wellknown landmarks, the whole district appeared entirely different. To one accustomed to the longer times taken by motor or train, the rapid travel, particularly on the return journey, was extraordinary, and difficult to believe. There is no doubt of the truth of the statement that air travel practically annihilates time and distance. The idea that in the not far distant future one may enjoy week-ends at Wanaka. as one now does at Karitano or “ down the bay,” is not beyond tlie bounds of possibility. By a piano leaving the Taieri at 12 noon on Saturday, one could, in good weather, be in time to have lunch at Wanaka, have Saturday, and Sunday there, and return

on Monday morning in time for work/’ Mr Kirby said he understood that in a modern closed-in plane, with room for a pilot and two passengers, the cost of the trip would he less than the cost by car. . In England and elsewhere to-day the aeroplane was, of course, no longer regarded' as unusual; it had emerged from the novelty stage and was rapidly becoming of great commercial value, and in some cases its use was almost a. necessity. Speeds up to 240 miles an hour were obtained (in the journey described above the planes travelled ah between sixty and eighty miles pert hour), and the safety factor was receive ing considerable attention. “It is significant that the Transport Bill now being considered by a Select Committee of the House contains provisions for the control of air services, said Mr Kirby. The Otago Aero Club was deserving of great for tlie important work it was carrying out, and one looked forward with interest to the future development of air services as a necessary adjunct to existing transport facilities.