LIGHT FOR NIGHT FLYING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 January 1926, Page 3

LIGHT FOR NIGHT FLYING.

TESTS MADE AT CROYDON. P'ENMTR A TING .MIST AND LOG. Steady progress is being made with the problem of perfecting some lighting scheme which will enable aircraft to land after dark on an aerodrome shrouded in mist or even enveloped in fog, and much useful information liar been obtained by the use of a military observation balloon over Oroydon aerodrome, writes the aeronautical correspondent of a London paper. A few days ago I had the opportunity of making my own observations from tlie air in the balloon at heights ranging from oddil. to I .ID! If L, and after iihscu'val ious extending over three-quar-tet'!, ol an hour. it. is abundantly deal that the early promise of the .Neon ga.slilled tube system of .signal lighting i* being fulfilled. Every one is familial now with the advertisement signs which consist of thin tubes of a peculiar red-di-h light. to be seen over London sli.-ps, and it is enlarged editions ol tliis tubing that 'nave changed remarkably the whole problem of illumination through log. i bis Inns tlie valuable pioueriv of piercing mist- more eflertive!v than any other form ol coloured light, while a fit; Lher advantage of. the form in which it is used is that it is purely a diffused light- and is not projected like that from the usual form ol ininp which i,.is :i bright filament or arc. Mint-., whereas the latter may •vciv definitely - e ndu-e the pilot's vision owing to its refraction I rom the iulmife.simaJ units ot moTi ure in a white u.i-i, the Neon light gives an even • iili ii'e l glow over a c.msjdei able atea without any dazzle elfect otlier than iliac of changing tin* colour value,', oi other lights in the vicinity. I’nforI n niitely. from tlie |>< in! of view of the worst conditions, there was no' thick log ill;:,ut when I went up in the halioon, but ill*.'re was a fair amount ol mist to cause refraction in l-lu* beam of (.lie large Hood light used for landing ■f aeroplanes. London itself was bidden in a blanket j ..C (loud and not a great oeu! of tin ! light* of Croydon could be seen, but <■' ad’ tdie many night binding lights on the ! aerodrome 1500 ft. below, the Neon 1 lights were infinitely more prominent.