BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

Evening Star, Issue 23270, 19 May 1939, Page 3

BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

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PREPARATION FOR ATLANTIC SERVICES.

Very shortly air mail services between Europe and Canada and the United States of America are to begin, and it is not only the mechanical perfection of the aircraft and the skill of their crews which will be necessary for the successful operation of this Venture. Both of these will be of no value without efficient wireless communication and accurate meteorological information While the preparation of aircraft and training of crews have been carried on. research and experiment have also been in progress, so that frequent and accurate weather reports may be transmitted by wireless to commanders of aircraft as they cross the 2,000 miles of sea. At Foynes in Eire and at Botwood (Newfoundland) special long-range wireless stations have been built for use in connection with the North Atlantic service. Further, for some time these stations have been making frequent and regular tests with their apparatus in anticipation of a start this summer of scheduled air services between the Old and the New Worlds. In one respect the station at Foynes has been more fortunate than Botwood, for the Irish station has been.able to carry out tests with the Imperial flying boats on the

Empire routes leaving and approaching Southampton. The meteorological knowledge which is to be used in connection with these services is the result of very many months of experiment and research,’ .and will, of course, benefit from the actual experience gained during the series of experimental flights earned out by Imperial Airways and Pan-American Airway's in 1937, and by the upper component of the Mayo Composite Marine Aircraft during' last summer.

Considerable data on North Atlantic weather conditions have been obtained from wireless reports received not only from various shore stations, but also from ships, both merchantmen and liners, using the North Atlantic. Further, meteorological observers have themselves travelled many times on ships making observations which are of paramount importance iu the forecasting of Atlantic weather. For example, by means of special instruments the movements of small pilotless balloons released from the ships have been observed. This has given infotnmtiofl on air currents at heights at which aircraft are likely to operate.

These observations and tlie mass of accumulated data mean that the nietcorogolists arc now able to forecast accurately tlie weather conditions at any point on the 2,U00-mile crossing, and, what is more, can differentiate between the conditions at sea level and_ at varying heights, in other words, it will be possible to give the commander of one of the Atlantic aircraft such accurate information that he will be able to plan his course, decide at what heights he must fly, and make an accurate estimate of the length of time it will take him to make the crossing. This in itself is a remarkable achievement, but in addition the aircraft will be constantly iu touch with shore stations which, in turn, will be in touch with ships. Any unexpected change in weather conditions can therefore be transmitted immediately to the commander of the aircraft, so'that, if need be. he can change his course to avoid unfavourable conditions.

For some time past ocean weather charts have been prepared which have enabled the personnel, who are being trained for the North Atlantic air service to do valuable preparatory work, On these charts they have been able to plot almost mile by. mile the course-, which they would bo steering if they were actually flying over the Atlantic. Regular air services are often long delayed after the first venturous solo flights, even after the commercial survey 'flights. But in the carriage of passengers and mail nothing can be left to chance, NEW ZEALAND MANAGER. To organise the sixth overseas do Havilland Company, Mr Hugh Buckingham has been drafted to New Zealand. Mr Buckingham has been on. the technical sales side of the de Havilland Company at Edgware and Hatfield since % he completed Ins three yea'rs’ workshop and theoretical training iri 19291 He is well known as'a demonstration pilot, , holds a commercial “ B ” pilot’s license, and has wide experience of many types of civil aircraft. He has flown all over Europe and beyond the company’s business, and on April 11, 1935, in a Comet monoplane he made the first flight from London to Paris in less than the hour. Latterly he has concentrated upon technical engines sales liason. ROUND THE DROME. The de Havilland Company will be well represented at the forthcoming New Zealand Centennial Exhibition in Wellington. x The British Air Ministry has ordered three Dragon Rapide trainers for instructing R.A.F., personnel in radionavigational duties. It will be recalled that two four-engined D.H.868 aircraft were supplied to the R.A.F. last year for similar instructional work at the R.A.F. College akCranwell. These are additional to the two D.H.SGB’s and two Dragon Rapides supplied to the Ait Ministry last year for communications ’ duty. _■