RAPID PROGRESS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4815, 26 July 1939, Page 6

RAPID PROGRESS

AUSTRALIAN AIR ARM. FIRST OF WIRRAWAYS. OTHER CLASSES FROM ABROAD. Sydney, July 11. Nearly 100 warplanes, all of the latest type, are on order in England for the Royal Australian Air Force, which this week also accepted delivery of three Wirraways, the first warplanes made in Australia. The planes ordered in England include about 20 Short Sunderland flying boats (the exact number has not been officially disclosed), 50 Bristol Beauforts (the type that will be made in Australia under the mass production scheme), and probably 14 secret high-speed fighters, of which no details have been revealed.

The Sunderlands are ready for immediate delivery, and officers and men of the R.A.A.F. are to leave within the next week to fly them out to Australia. Delivery of the Beauforts was originally promised for the end of 1939, but, according to the Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, only some of them will be here by then, the order being completed next year. The secret fighters are not yet in production in England, and a delivery date for the Australian order has not yet been fixed. It is hoped that all will be here next year. In addition to these orders, 50 Lockheed Hudsons are due from the United States, the first batch being expected next month and the complete order by Christmas. First of the Wirraways.

The three Wirraways handed over to the Air Force are the first of the 150 ordered by the Federal Government from the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Melbourne. All are to be completed by next year. The handing over of the first three was made a ceremonious occasion, at which the Minister of Defence, Mr. Street, and the Minister of Supply, Mr. Casey, represented the Government. The three handed over and two others were tux'ned up on the tarmac at the factory's landing field, and after they had been inspected, one was flown in an acceptance flight by the Air Force director of training. He put it through exacting tests which left no doubt that the machine had fulfilled the highest expectations. "It is a delightful machine to handle and an improvement on its American prototype, the NA 33," he said. The other Wirraways were then flown solo, and finally four were flown in formation. "This is a memorable and historic occasion," said Mr. Street, as he watched the Wirraways, trim and powerful, roaringoverhead in perfect formation. "The production of these machines is a great tribute to Australian workmanship and is a great technical achievement in a country which hitherto has had no industry of this type." Mr. Casey added his praise. "The fact," he said, "that scarcely 15 months after the manufacture of the first components the factory should be in a position to make delivery of three fully-equipped planes is striking evidence of the skill and enthusiasm of all concerned with the inauguration of the Australian aircraft industry."