OUT OF THE BLUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

OUT OF THE BLUE.

In the United Stales at tlio present lime there arc approximately 10,000 licenced aeroplanes.

The number of persons holding air pilot's licences in India is as follows: " A " licences, 61; " B " licences, 25.

A "Hinkler Deacon" to perpetuate Squadron-Leader Bert Hinkler's record flight to Australia in 15£ days on a Cirrus Avian, has boon erected on the roof of the State Theatre at Sydney, and is visible for 50 miles.

Five million miles of cross-Channel flying were recently completed by the fleet of Imperial Airways. This represents approximately 20,000 flights across the Channel, during which over 100,000 passengers have been flown between London and the Continent.

Swiss air services during the past eight years have covered an aggregato distance of 3,906,250 miles and have carried some 62,000 passengers. During the same period, aircraft of the Swiss air transpoit companies covered 1,562,000 miles without accident and without a single mailbag being lost.

lii Canada, in 1928, aeroplanes aided in the survey of 50,000 sq. miles. "Vertical photography was resorted to in the case of 22,000 miles, and oblique photography accounted for 31,000 miles. When meticulous detail is required, it is usual to use tho' vertical method, otherwise the oblique method is satisfactory.

A new record for a flight from Pans to London was recently set up by Mr. B. Youell, who covered the distance of approximately 200 miles in only 95 minutes. The machine, an air-liner of Imperial Airway, Ltd., which carried 20 passengers and weighed nine tons, maintained an average speed of 145 miles an hour.

" Tail skids, please, miss.' 1 When an aviator gives this order in a Curtis Field (America), restaurant, the waitress brings back a couple of chops. For alreddy food and flying are being joined up with the slang of the United States. An omelet is a " crash, ' ham and eggs are known as a " three-point landing," a sausage is a " ground loop," and plain bread and butter is known as a " slideslip."

An officer at the training station, Newport, R. 1., U.S.A., descending by parachute from an aeroplane into tho bay, on November 12, reached the water in a rubber boat which he carried with him. At the height of 2000 ft. he jumped and released the parachute immediately. When he had descended 300 ft. he released the valve of a compressed air tank he carried, inflating the rubb.er lifeboat he had strapped about him. He fell into the bay sitting in the boat v