HIGHWAYS OF THE AIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20074, 11 October 1928, Page 11

HIGHWAYS OF THE AIR.

NEW ZEALAND'S FUTURE.

LAND PLANES AND SEAPLANES.

VIEWS OF SIR JOHN SALMOND. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Yffduesday. "One has beard in one or two quarters that New Zealand is not a country which lends itself to air work, but for tho life of me I cannot seo where that argument comes in," said Air-Marshal Sir John Salmond, Commander-in-Chief of tho Air Defences of Britain, to-day, when discussing aviation in New Zealand. "You have magnificent flying country in parts. For instance, what could be more ideal than the Canterbury Plains ? "Whore the country is bad for flying," said Sir John, "all that is needed arc a few organised landing grounds for emergencies, and none of tho country is so bad that these could not be provided. At first sicht tho country might seem to be more suited for seaplanes than land planes, but it probably is not so really. For seaplanes it is essential to have good, sheltered anchorages, but to obtain the ideal conditions for these is by no means easy. Tho operation of seaplanes, too, is expensive and demands skilled organisation. There are slipways, for instance, to construct. Seaplanes too Expensive. "For flying clubs tho light plane of tho Moth typo is what is wanted in New Zealand. At present the seaplane is too expensive for clubs, although the day may come when the light seaplane will be available." With regard to crossing the English Channel to reach the Continent, tho air services wero very popular. Much tho same conditions would be found to operate in New Zealand, and he thought the bridging of the gap between the two islands would before long be regularly done by air, with the saving of much time. How aviation would develop commercially in New Zealand, however, was conjectural, and experience alone would tell.

Regular air services across the Tasman would come in time. It had to bo remembered that the Southern Cross was doing pioneering work. Before such services eventuated iuucli experimental work would have to be carried out, including research into the upper air. The Southern Cross was not built for stunt flying, hence it was wise to refrain from attempting the return flight until fairly good conditions were assured. Lighter Than Air Machines. Whether lighter-than-air machines would supplant the aeroplane for long distance services lime alone would tell. The former at present were in an experimental stage, and it remained to be seen whether their great cost, compared with that of the heavier-than-air machines, was an economical proposition. Seeing that the newest airships could carry about 200 passengers, it might be that airships would, be used on the main travel routes, with aeroplanes acting as feeders. Aeroplanes had proved their | reliability as far as keeping to a timetable was concerned, as was shown by the recent flight to Australia by the British Air Force flying boats. How New Zcalaud would in futuro link up with the projected Empire air services, said Sir John, could not bo forecasted as yet. "But iu tho meantime," he said, "the more New Zealand develops her air sense tho more ready will she be fo come into line when an Empire air service is an accomplished fact."

With regard to the development of aviation for defence purposes in New Zealand, Sir John ; . said" I have said what I have to say about the air force in Australia and I shall bo making another report for the New Zealand Government before I leave Auckland on October 23." Sir John will leave Wellington on October 17 and intends to sail from Auckland for England by the Niagara.