BROADCASTING FROM MID-AIR

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 January 1926, Page 8

BROADCASTING FROM MID-AIR

CONCERT BY PROMINENT ARTISTS. Highly experimental though the attempt to broadcast a whole entertainment from the air must be, everything so far goes to show that it. is likely to be muck more successful than seemed probable in the first instance. Permission has been obtained to use the wonderful new Yiekers-Yaiiguard ’plane, which recently passed its tests. As this machine is designed to carry twenty-two passengers, it may be possible for all the artists and engineers involved to make the trip simultanously, without the need to descend and carry out a partial exchange of the crew. • The piano was easily introduced into the cabin of the bigger machine, and precautions have been taken to prevent it from swaying and rocking with the motion of the ’plane. This piano, by the way, which has a compass of only about five octaves, lias been specially made for the purpose, and lias the tone of a full-size instrument. The concert is to be ''stage-manag-ed” as follows. The machine will leave the ground with as many of the. artists as it will conveniently take, and will climb to about 10,000 feet, at which height the- concert will begin. The machine will be within .500 feet from the ground before the programme ends. At 10,000 feet the engines will lie throttled down, so that the noise will not interfere too much with the music. The engines will not be shut off altogether, for these reasons: First, a slight background of noise is wanted to oreafc for the listener.

Secondly, the machine would probably descend rather too quickly. Thirdly, the power for the transmission from the aeroplane is obtained from a generator worked by an air screw. The faster the speed of the machine, the greater the power obtainable, and sufficient is not generated il the ’plane is moving as slowlv as possible. The idea of this aerial broacast was originated by Air. Claude B. Yearsley and Air. Harvey Lloyd, and they are responsible for the programme and the selection of the artists. Two women will make the trip, Aliss Alarion Browne, who will sing two songs, and Aliss Peggy O'Neil, who will sing an item from “Alerceiiary Alary.” f Air. Robert- Hale will sing "Queen Bess.” arid Air. 'Morris Harvey will do a comedy turn. Mr. Frank Webster and Air. Arthur Cliesney will also sing, and eight selected members of the Savoy Orhpeans Band will play. A short sketch has been written specially for the occasion by Air. Dion Titheradge, and will be acted by the author and Air. Arthur Chesiiev. It deals approximately. I understand. with the feelings of two actors up in the air for the first time. Loud-speakers have been installed in the hotel in the grounds of Croydon aerodrome itself. Friends of the performer.s will listen there to the programme. Alembers of the general public may also he present. Besides the entertainment there will be a brief demonstration of the methods bv which the Croydon aerodrome and cross-Channel pilots keep in touch by wireless. Alany listeners are doubt, less familiar with such aerial conversations, which, may he picked up by any good set in the neighbourhood of the flying route.