AERIAL “BUMPINGS”

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 January 1931, Page 7

AERIAL “BUMPINGS”

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION TO MINIMISE DISASTERS [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, January 23. [ The accident to the Junkers’ monoplane, which occurred at Meapham '(Kent) in July last year, and resulted in the death of all the passengers and crew, is the subject of a report issued by the Accidents Investigation Sub-committee of the Aeronautical Research Committee of the Air Ministry. After full review of the various alternatives, the Sub-committee find that the niost probable primary cause of the disaster was buffeting by a species of irregular oscillation, which caused the breaking of the tail unit in the first instance.

t The Sub-committee recommends that the phenomenon described as buffeting be investigated, and steps taken to place the measurement of the tubulence in the air, described generally by pilots as bumpings, on a definite scientific basis, by the carrying of accelerometers on aircraft, or by other means. Such measurements -will help to define the size, distribution and sharpness of the boundaries of up and down currents. The knowledge is needed to determine the load factors to which aeroplanes should be designed. MAIL SERVICE INCREASE RUGBY, January 23. During the last quarter, 24,000 lbs. of letter air-mail were carried from England, as compared with 21,000 during the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The carryings to India totalled 9000 lbs., and were again larger than those to any other country, the Christmas mail of December 13, weighed nearly 1800 lbs., constituting a record for a single flight by this or any other air service from Eng land. . The proportion of the mail for Empire destinations amounted to more than one half of the total mail carried during the quarter. Traffic for European countries, however, continued to grow and showed an increase of 33 per cent. During the whole of last year, the total weight of air letter mail dispatched was 41 tons, as dompared with 30 tons in the previous year. “ ? MENZIES’ TOUR. » HASTINGS, January 23. Three planes, piloted respectively by Guy Menzies, Captain Mercer and Captain Barlow, arrived at Hastings Aerodrome shortly/ before fertir this afternoon. On landing, the Tasman flier was given a vociferous reception by a.crowd numbering thousands, who assembled to welcome him. Three Hastings machines set out at three o’clock to meet the visiting airmen, and to escort them to the aerodrome, but they missed them in the distant clouds, and the welcoming ceremony was over when they returned. Mr O’Dowd, chairman of the East Coast Aero Club, eulogised Mr Menzies for his courage and determination. He was also accorded a civic reception by the Mayor. The visiting fliers leave to-morrow morning for Auckland, in time to take part in the pageant being held there. Two Hastings planes left for Auckland this morning to compete in the pageant events.