OUT OF THE BLUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20554, 3 May 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

OUT OF THE BLUE.

Water gliding is tho latest form of amusement in America. A syndicate has been formed, and .gliders with duralumin hulls, and having a low enough windloading to allow them to riso off the water when towed behind an ordinary pleasure motor-boat will bo used.

The Auckland Aero Club has now a total membership of 550, which is coml osed of 412 associate members, 98 pupil members, and 40 pilot members. Sinco its inception 14 months ago, tho club has trained 23 pilots. The pupil members includo threo ladies, one of whom is nearly ready to undergo tho tests for an A licence.

Sir William Morris has decided to enter tho aviation field. 110 is to conccntrato on an aeroplano engine of medium power likely to command a ready World sale. So far no details of his plans havo been mado public, but it is learned upon good authority that lie proposes to market a seven-cylinder aircooled radial engine of about 145 h.p. It will bo u geared engine, and a mixing fan in tho induction system should impart a small super-charging effect.

France, in preparation for tho next Schneider Trophy llaco in 1931, has established a High-Speed Flight, similar to the one in which tho British pilots trained for tho race. Tho French HighSpeed Flight aro using tho aeroplanes, which were built for tho 1929 contest, but were delivered too late. They arc being' flown by France's two greatest speed pilots, Sadi Lecointo and Lieutenant I'aillard. Lieutenant Paillard has been (lying the 1000 h.p. Bernard monoplane with two long floats, on which ho has succeeded in taking off from tho water in 15 seconds, a better timo than the British winner of the race last year achieved.