BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

Evening Star, Issue 21565, 10 November 1933, Page 2

BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

[By Gvpsv Moth.]

TOLD AT THE DROME. Training for the week has been decidedly brisk, the flying time amounting to 30h 35min, mostly done on one machine. By the week-end it is hoped to have three machines in action, so that a semi-field day may be held on Saturday to mark the arrival of the passenger plane piloted by E/lt G. B. Bolt from Wellington, arriving at 3 p.m. to-mor-row. It is hoped tha-t all pilots and pupils will attend so as to make the afternoon a success. Competitions will be held, and an exhibition of aerobatics will be given by Flight-lieutenant Olson. Passenger flights will be given in the Waco if time permits. The following cross-country flights were made during the week:—Pilot 1. Penrose, Christchurch and return; Flight-lieutenant Olson, Central Otago and also to Christchurch, the return trip being held up by bad weather. The following visitors arrived at the Taieri during the week:—-Squadron-leader T. W. While, piloting New Zealand Airways’ Spartan ZKABN; Flight-lieutenant B. Mercer, piloting Canterbury Aero Club’s Gipsy Moth ZKAAI: Mr Boucher, piloting Auckland Aero Club’s Gipsy Moth ZKAAT; Mr Bradshaw, piloting Southland Aero Club’s Gipsy Moth ZKADB: Flightlieutenant H. B. Burrell, piloting New Zealand Permanent Air Force Moth 872. Mr Trevor Freeman is to be congratulated on passing his A license test. . INTER CLUB CRICKET MATCH. The following will represent the Otago pilots in a cricket match against the South Otago pilots to be played at the aerodrome during the week-end: — A. Burbidge, D. P, Cameron, D. Campbell. A. Crichton, M. Greenslade, 11. Hudson. S. Hudson, C. Elmes, J. L. AUlndoc. I. H. Penrose, W. D. Taylor, G. S. Kirby. SPORTSMAN’S TRIP. ‘Shell Aviation News’ reports that for the third year in succession HenWilly Zietz left Switzerland in September in his Eokker to fly to East Africa, where he undertook a shooting safari. Kisumu, the only place in Kenya with a hangar large enough to house his machine, was again used as a base. Captain F. Ivneer, Herr Zeits’s private pilot, again accompanied the safari in that capacity. The machine, which was flown out, is luxuriously furnished, the cabin having four armchairs, which can easily be transformed into sleeping berths by a few simple adjustments. Electric lighting, internal heating, and ventilators in the ceiling are fitted. A THRILLING RECEPTION. At Christmas lime the arrangements made by the Auckland Aero Club include a visit to Rotorua for three days and then a tour of the northern district by three machines with the intention of increasing the air-minded-ness of the populace in that district, Judging by the reception accorded the chief instructor, Flight-lieutenant D. M. Allan and Mr F. B. Cadman, at a little-frequented place in the Far North, the lour should be as adventurous as it is interesting. Their arrival was the signal for an excited charge by a large number of Maoris, headed by an imposing one carrying a sheath knife. The instructor inquired whether the lender intended to attack them with the knife, but he replied that he had only been using it for some domestic purpose and meant no harm. SEA PLANE STATION AT NEW YORK. Pilots arriving in New York in seaplanes or amphibians can now land on the Hudson River and moor at the station known as the metropolitan seaplane terminal, just ten minutes from the business centre of Xew York, states the ‘ Shell Aviation News.’ It is situated directly across the street from the Exchange place subway station of the Hudson and Manhattan railroad (Hudson tubes), which is three minutes’ run from the Hudson terminal. 'Phis is in the very heart of downtown New York, and is the focal point for every major underground and overhead railway system in the city. The Grand Central station can be reached from .the Hudson terminal in fifteen minutes, ‘ Times ’ square and Brooklyn in ten minutes, Pennsylvania station in five minutes, and Wall Street it) three minutes. The Holland tunnel is live minutes from the metropolitan seaplane terminal, so that anyone desiring to drive to the terminal can reach it in a matter of a few minutes. The Newark airport is fifteen minutes away. At the outer end and on the north side of Pier B there is a reconverted Navy barge equipped with offices, waiting room, rest rooms, haiigar and ramp. The ramp is placed at the outer end and on the north side of the barge, and is so situated in relation to the next pigr as to leave an absolutely clear approach (o the ramp, On the ramp is a turntable, the bottom end of which extends into the water. A seaplane approaches the ramp, and under its own power pulls up (o the centre of the turn-table. When in position the machine is swung round to the best position to allow passengers to disembark. After embarkation or disembarkation the machine is swung round again, if necessary, until it is headed down the ramp, where it is in a position to taxi immediately out into the river. Gasoline and oil are obtainable at the seaplane Motion. Mechanical and ordinary service is also available, and machines will be» allowed to moor for the day or for as long as desired. This will be an advantage to the ,private owner, who flies to his office tn New York, and who does not want to be troubled with the long taxicab ride from any one of the outlying aerodromes. HUMBER AIR FERRY* The Humber Air Ferry, between the Hull Municipal Aerodrome and Grimsby, inaugurated as a regular thrice-daily service two months ago, lias been such a success that it has been decided to make the service ait hourly one. i The machines in use are iSackburn Segraves, which are twiil-engined monoplanes, capable of carryilig three passengers, in addition to the pilot. These aeroplanes arc a development of one designed by the late Sir Henry Segrave a few months befori he was killed in attempting to bjeak the world's motor boat speed record. The

machines have proved very serviceable and economical, and fast enough to allow the air journey to bo accomplished in ten minutes. Special cars take passengers to and from the aerodromes, and the complete passage from the centre of Hull to the centre of Grimsby is undertaken in under half an hour. The fares arc 7s and 12s for the single or i'cturn journeys. Further efforts arc now being made to develop Hull ns an air port, and to this end the Municipal Aerodrome Committee are now in communication with Dutch and English aviation companies, with a view to running a regular air line to Amsterdam. Preliminary conversations have proved very successful, and it is believed that a new air route over the North Sea will be opened by the spring of next year.