Aviation Progress in Manawatu

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 6

Aviation Progress in Manawatu

THREE NEW MACHINES WITH LATEST EQUIPMENT

With the arrival from Auckland on Saturday of a new Tiger Moth, ZK-AGE, piloted by Flying-Officer R. G. Linklater, the Middle Districts Aero Club’s fleet of aircraft has reached a total of three new machines, namely, Tiger Moths AFU and AGE and Porterfield ZK-AFS.

The Tiger Moth is the latest production of the De Havillaud Aircraft Com pany and is a development of the Gipsy Moth type, but is a great advance, being powered with a Gipsy Major motor of 130 h.p. capable of cruising at 94 m.p.h. at 2100 revolutions and with a top speed of 110 m.p.h. at 2400 revolutions.

The Tigers are equipped with full sets of instruments iu both cockpits, ZK-AGE having iu addition to blind flying instruments (bank and turn indicator and fore and aft level) iu the rear cockpit only, while ZK-AFU has these instruments in both cockpits for blind flying instruction. ZK-AFU also has a blind flying hood, while both machines are equipped with fittings for the hood.

A further welcome addition to the equipment is complete sets of Sutton harness or shoulder straps in all cockpits, the machines much more comfortable for cross country work and aerobatics.

The Porterfield is a two-place tandem seater cabin type high-wing monoplane of American manufacture, powered with a Warner Scarab 90 h.p. radial 5-cylinder motor and is capable of cruising at 112 m.p.h. at 1850 revolutions with a top speed of 125 m.p.h. at the very low petrol consumption of four gallons per hour. This machine is also equipped with wheel brakes and is proving a popular machine with club members due to the comfort of cabin flying and faster cruising speed. It is the intention of the club to use ZK-AGE as the primary trainer and aerobatic machine, ZK-AFU as the advanced trainer and cross country craft, while the Porterfield will be very popular for passenger work and cross country trips.

With tenders already called for a new hangar and clubhouse to be built on the same side of the aerodrome as Union Airways and the recent installation of a public address system, the local club should enjoy a very bright future and prove a popular visiting place for the public during week-ends as with the aid of the public address system they will be better posted as to what is taking place in future.