£100 ’PLANES-PREDICTED

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 23 August 1935, Page 8

£IOO ’PLANES-PREDICTED

THE SAFETY OF FLYING

COMMON MEANS OF TRANSPORT

LONDON, July 12. What will flying be like in 10 or 20 years’ time? It will be the common means of transport for everyone, as popular and safe as the motor car. And cheaper. Some of the developments which Mr Anthony Fokker, the famous Dutch airman and inventor, foresees, according to an article in the “Sunday Express,” are: £IOO “runabout” aeroplanes; ocean air liners carrying from 40 to 100 people, maybe more; golf club aerodromes for the sporting flier; London to New York in one hop; tourist traffic in the air to all parts of the world; and stratosphere flights in ideal weather at 300-500 miles an hour. ‘‘When we can build small aeroplanes in great numbers,” he continues, “even if not as large as we do cars, you will be able to buy a machine for £IOO to £l2O, and fly to Paris for a few shillings. They will carry two persons, and with a 50 h.p. engine develop a speed of more than 100 miles an hour. But I do not think there will be as many aeroplanes as cars, because greater skill is needed to operate an aeroplane in bad weather, although under normal conditions it is much simpler to fly. “Wlien the poor man’s aeroplane arrives flying will be the cheapest form of transport iri the world. Every city will have-a number of airports, and there will be many private landing grounds for golf clubs so that you can fly to and from your game.”