SURVEY FLIGHT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 163, 12 June 1939, Page 7

SURVEY FLIGHT.

HORSBURGH ISLAND STUDIED. COCOS ISLAND, June 10. The Commonwealth correspondent on the ’plane Guga, on an exploratory flight across the Indian Ocean, reports that a ground survey of Horsburgh Island revealed a site for a splendid natural aerodrome. A fair amount of money must be spent to bring it up to aviation requirements, but all the material required for runwavs is near at hand. Captain IVG. Taylor expressed the opinion that, though the passengercarrying ocean aircraft of the future will be large living-boats, it is quite possible that mails may be carried by land aircraft, cruising at high speed. Therefore, an aerodrome on Cocos Island was a. matter of considerable importance commercially, and would be of great value for Air Force operations. Subject to the completion of the survey at Cocos, which is at present, proceeding, the flying-boat Guba will leave for Diego Garcia, in the Cltagos Archipelago, on Alondav. The distance is LUO miles, and the flight is expected to take about 15 hours. The Guba hopes to establish radio communication with the hospital ship Manchester, which has been assigned bv tlie Admiralty to wait at Diego Garcia for the Guba.