BRITISH AEROPLANES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 21 June 1937, Page 6

BRITISH AEROPLANES

[To The Editor! Sir, —In your issue of 17th June is published (without any comment) a statement by one Captain C. H. Scott, of Australian National Airways, that American aeroplanes are being used in Australia for commercial aviation because they are more adapted to colonial conditions. This ; s contrary to fact. Perhaps the views of Sir MacPherson Robertson, donor of the prize for the Centenary Air Race, London to Melbourne, may interest some readers, both those who “crawl” to the Americans and those who don’t. After that famous race, won by a British machine, a De Haviland Comet (speed 240 m.p.h.) against the world, Sir MacPherson Robertson toured the U.S.A., France, Germany and England, and a made a very comprehensive inspection of aviation factories in all these countries. Here is what he says:— “England leads the world in every aspect of aviation, her aeroplanes are second to none for safety, durability and performance; and English aeroplane factories have nothing to learn from other countries.’ Not long ago two Stinson aeroplanes were imported to Australia from the U S.A., and inside a space of six weeks both crashed, killing most of the occupants. Sir Chas. Kingsford Smith was found of American aeroplanes, and he went to disaster in one. It is interesting to note that the most famous U.S.A. air liners, the Douglas (Ten), is modelled on the design of the De Havilland Comet. To their credit, Cook Strait Airways have bought British aeroplanes from De Havilland Aviation Co., which firm, to their credit many years ago opened up branch factories in Canada, Australia, South Africa and India (yet the colonial tells us the Home people are slow.) This wee addendum compels me to say I am not English. We hear a lot to-day, especially from our ignorant but well-meaning Ministers, that Empire trade must be increased and presumably the Mother Land, which takes three times as much goods from i s as we take from her, must still take more yet. All this one sided talk, just as Union Airways is about to inaugurate an air service between Auckland and Wellington with American aeroplanes—and be it noted, Union Airways is owned by the Union Steam Ship Company, which has just been ousted from the Pacific run between Wellington and San Francisco b> most unfairly subsidised American ships. In conclusion let me say the U.S.A. Clipper flying boats do 150 m.p.h., but the British equivalent all do 200 m.p.h., and are more luxuriously fitted up.—l am, etc., PLAIN FACTS. Nelson 19th June.