BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

Evening Star, Issue 22630, 23 April 1937, Page 2

BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

LOCAL GOSSIP. Congratulations are extended to Flying-officer .Don Campbell, pilot-in-structor to the Otago Aero Club, on his appointment to a' position witli Union Airways ltd. , Flying-officer Campbell was “trained by_ the previous pilot-instructor, Flight-lieutenant E, G. Olsen, and was appointed to the position when the latter accepted a post in the Royal New Zeaand Air Force. Ten aero club instrutcors from various parts of the Dominion are at present at Wigram aerodrome undergoing a special instructors’ refresher course and tuition in blind flying, in accordance with the proposed Government regulations. The returfing of the aerodrome has now been completed,'and a perfectly level surface is provided for pilots. The tarmac in front of the hangars has also been greatly improved. The gravel surface has been replaced with a smooth material, which has greatly improved the appearance of the aerodrome. A working bee of pilots recently constructed living quarters at the aero* drome for pilots wishing to stay there. There is accommodation for six, and cooking facilities, so that pilots _ who wish to carry out intensive training may stay’ at the aerodrome and carry out the maximum of flying.

MRS PUTNAM’S MACHINE. The plane purchased by the Amelia! Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research as a “ flying laboratory ” for Mrs Putnam, is a twin-engined Lockheed Electra, similar to those ordered by Union. Airways Ltd. for the new_ service between Auckland and Wellington. It is powered -with two Pratt and Whitney Wasp S3HI; engines of 550 horsepower each driving constant speed metal propellers. Although designed along the lines of a standard transport, tlie plane carries instead of passenger seats additional fuel tanks for extended non-stop flights. The fuselage carries 800 gallons of fuel, while wing, tanks are installed which hold 400 gallons. With a total capacity of 1,200 gallons of „ petrol and 75 gallons of oil, the “ flying workshop ” has a cruising range in excess of 4,500 miles. When fully loaded with fuel, instruments, and supplies the plane weighs 16,5001 b. Special instruments include a robot pilot, de-icing appliances on the leading edge of the wing and stabiliser, and a new type fuel analyser which enables fuel consumption to be kept at a minimum under all flying conditions. A radio homing device and a two-way radio telephone are also installed in the pilot’s compartment. The cockpit has been specially sound-proofed to give the pilot every possible comfort during her research work with the plane. At the rear of the fuselage space has been, provided for a navigator and radio operator, although for solo flying she will be able to .act as her own navigator by permitting the robot pilot to fly the plane wfltte she makes observations frorii a special hatch built in tha rear of the fuselage.

FLYING BOAT TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. Arrangements are stated to be under way for one of the new Empire flying boats to visit Australia and New Zealand. The visit will take the form of a goodwill flight to, Australia, and a survey flight to New Zealand. One of the long-range boats will be used, and it is expected that it will make a sevenday flight to Sydney, and after a short stay proceed with the survey flight to New Zealand before returning, to Britain. Several Australian pilots are expected to be sent to England next year to train on the Empire flying boats, and it is reported that Qantas —Empire Airways’ pilots are to fly the 18-ton air mail flying boats on the SingaporeAustralian section. The flying boat air mail scheme will start to Africa in April, but Australian opinion is that it is unlikely that it will operate to Australia until 1938.

It is expected that the base at Auckland will either be Lady’s Bay or Orakei. The Auckland Harbour Board has expressed its willingness to co-oper-ate in the provision of facilities. ' The London ‘ Evening News ’ states that the material and personnel for the first through flying boat flight to Australia is not likely to be ready before the end of 1937. Other details necessitate several additional months of preparation. Thus the seven-day Anglo-Australian schedule will probably not operate before the end of 1938.

THE ATLANTIC SERVICE. The Imperial Airways’ flying boat Cambria, which is one of the fleet_ of new 20-ton four-engined Empire flying boats, cruised round Great Britain for nearly nine hours on February _ 21, covering 1,350 miles. She ran strictly to schedule without trouble, and experts express themselves completely satisfied. The flight was one of the preliminary tests for the experimental transatlantic flights which the Cambria and her sister ship, the Caledonia, are shortly to undertake. These vessel# are equipped with tankage for long-range flying, and the Cambria carried 1,600 gallons of fuel. Throughout, her flight she was in constant wireless communication _ with ground sialions. Pending the incorporation of a joint company, m which Britain, Canada, and the Irish Free State each will have a financial interest, experimental flights and investigations will be conducted by Imperial Airways. It is expected that the company will be in a position to operate alternate experimental air mail services by November 1. The establishment of » passenger service is to follow as soon as possible. The Caledonia, at an average speed of 170 miles an hour, recently flew nonstop from Southampton to Alexandria, a journey several hundred miles longer than the Atlantic crossing. The flight took 13h 35min. The. flight was one of* a series of tests in which various navigation wireless tests are being carried out. ft is intended to make oeveral more before attempting .to cross th* North Atlantic in one hop.

An American transatlantic air mail service is to start on November 1, Twice weekly round trips between New York and Southampton with giant pas-senger-carrying flying boats are con. templated. The northern route (3,500 miles) via Newfoundland will be used for sis months, and the southern route (5,000 miles) via Charleston. Bermuda, and the Azores for the other six months of the year in the air mail service. Colonel Edgar Gorrell, president of the Air Transport Association of America, has stated that a 42. J-ton aeroplane now under construction will carry about 60 passengers.