OUT OF THE BLUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

OUT OF THE BLUE.

Nineteen aeroplanes of the 95th Pursuit Squadron of the United States Army Air Force, have established at Sacramento, California, a new world's altitude record of 30,000 ft. for combat formation flying. The previous record was 17,000 ft. A new type of Pterodactyl, _ or tailless aeroplane, is nearing completion at the Westland Aircraft Works at Yeovil, England. A cabin monoplane with seating for three people, it will be fitted with u 112-h.p. engine and wheel brakes. Major Mario di Bernardi, who won tho Schneider Trophy in 1926 at Hampton Roads, was involved in an air collision near Romo on May 28. Bernardi jumped with his parachute and came safely to earth, bnt the other pilot, named Lovadina, was killed. , For some time past United Transport, Limited, has been operating a successful taxi service with a Desoutter cabin monoplane. Tho company has headqualters at Hamilton, and the pilot is Major G. A. C. Cowper, at one timo instructor at the Auckland Aero Club. Four Hawker Tomtit aeroplanes have been ordered for tho New Air Force, and should arrive in the Dominion at the end of the year. The Tomtit _is an all-metal training two-seater, with Armstrong-Siddeley Morigooso engine. One of these machines was entered in the recent King's Cup race by the Prince of Wales. A new type of British fighter that has created wide interest and admiration is tho Blackburn Lincock, a singlo-seater fighter of high performance fitted with an Armstrong-Siddeley Lynx engine. Though its engine is only of 215 h.p., the Lincock is possessed of romarkable manoeuvring powors, a high top speed and very rapid rate of climb.

The Gorman airship Graf Zeppelin was recently chartered by a Swiss couple to celebrate their silver wedding day. Accompanying them was a party of 33 guests, each of whom had paid £2O toward the cost of hiring the dirigible. The Zeppelin made flight of nine hours' duration over Switzerland, during which it flew over tho Leaguo of Nations building at Goneva. Proposals have been put forward in America for the provision of a new type of aerodrome made of heavy wire netting and floating in the air 2000 ft. above the earth. Twelve captive balloons are intended to support this novel airport and passengers and goods, adds tho newspaper report, will bo lowered to the ground by means of cables. It has not yet been agreed whether the landing or the lowering will be the more alarming experience for the passengers 1