The Aviation World

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21473, 22 April 1933, Page 5 (Supplement)

The Aviation World

AUCKLAND AERO CLUB NEWS

BY AILERON

The chief instructor of the Auckland Aero Club, Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan, left for Wigram Aerodrome on Wednesday in the orange machine, with Mrs. Allan as passenger. He will be engaged on the refresher course for ten days, during which time Mrs. Allan is to be the guest of Lady Stewart, at her homo at Pigeon Bay, Banks Peninsula. While tho chief instructor is absent from tho aerodrome, his place lias been taken by Flight-Lieutenant W. H. Lett, formerly pilot on the GisborneHastings air service, whoso name is well known in aviation circles. The greater part of Flight-Lieutenant Lett's total flying time of 2000 hours has been spent in instructing, for he was engaged with tho Royal Air Force in Egypt during tho war in turning out pilots, fie came out to New Zealand in 1921, and when the reserve of Air Force officers was established two years later ho kept his hand in by attending annual refresher courses, it was in 1929 that ho took on flying as a profession, and with Captain Bolt he toured both islands joy-riding for Goodwin and Chichester. After a spell of a year ho joined up as instructor to tho Hawko's Bay Aero Club until tho

time of tho earthquake in February, 1931, and then lie became engaged in transporting passengers and goods between Hastings and Gisborno. When Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor was injured recently in an aeroplane accident, Flight-Lieutenant Lett relieved him at Palmerston North Aero Club. Incidentally it is pleasing to note that Squadron-Leader McGregor is on tho road to recovery, and after a period of some months on his back will probably bo able to get up again in about five or six weeks. Work on the Machines A rather busy period was experienced at tho aerodroipe during tho Easter holidays, and consequently work on tho machines has been interrupted to a certain extent. It was found that the tanks oil the Puss Moth had been vibrating slightly, and the fabric on the top wing had become frayed, which necessitated renewing the top surface. Each tank, which has a capacity of 18 gallons, is not fixed rigidly as in the case of a Moth, but is mounted in wire cables with rubber bearers, and this more flexible mounting gives the tank an opportunity for movement. It was this up and down motion which gradually wore through the fabric on tho wings. The tail skid broke at the beginning of the week at the yoke piece, and while the metal was being re-welded • a three-cornered piece of hard metal, from an old file, was welded on to the base of the shoe. This gives the steerable tail skid more grip on the ground while the machine is being taxied about. The wing belonging to the blue machine, which has been transferred to ZK-AAL since it was damaged when i lie metal Moth was started up one day with the throttle jammed open and viciously attacked it, has been covered with Irish linen and will soon be " doped." The linen is made up by the manufacturer into the shape of a wing, so it only has to be pulled on like a glove, tightened and sewn up before the " doping " can be commenced. The cost of this material is about £3

15s, which is expensive, but a featxire of the linen is that it contains no flaws in the weaving. The effect of the " dope" on the linen, waterproofs it, makes it air-tight, and stretches it like a drum, which strengthens the wing. Three coats of ochre and one of aluminium are necessary before the plane can be used. Other colours than aluminium would bo suitable, but the reason they are not used is that they would add too much to the weight. Bonding ol the Hose

The hose on the bowser has been " bonded " to prevent any risk of fire while the machines are being filled up, in accordance with instructions issued to ground engineers by the_ Air Ministry. It was stated in the instructions that owing to the action of the benzine passing through the pipe there was a possibility of about 20,000 volts of static electricity being generated, which would create a good-sized spark. Chamois leathers as filters are no longer needed as the Zwickey nozzle, which contains three filters, has been passed by the Air Ministry. The locker at the base of the pump, where oil and funnels are kept, is being made watertight. Malthoid, a form of waterproof lining, is employed underneath the boarding so that the driving rain, which used to saturate anything that was kept in the locker during wet weather, will be kept out. The Sports Avian, owned by Mr. R. Kirkup, which was damaged at the Chateau during a landing on the rough ground in front of the hotel, will be ready to take the air again next week. There was very little serious damage done to the machine, the undercarriage

and the propellor taking all the force of the contact with the ground. Two new 18-gauge Reynolds steel tubes have boon fitted on the undercarriage in placo of the 20-gauge Accles and Pollock

tubes which were bent, and stronger bolts fitted nt the junctions. A well-attended pilots' and pupils'

meeting was held at tho club house on Wednesday evening, 29 members being present. Captain .1. W. Richmond gave an interesting and instructive lecture oil " Navigation " during the first part of the evening. Concern was expressed by members that the library was not under any supervision, and several asked that the Royal Air Force Quarterly be subscribed to. The matters were referred to the committee. The financial statement of the

pageant held on March 25 showed that expenditure had been covered by receipts. Wings wore presented to Messrs. N. M. Louisson, I. McEwan, H. O'Connor and W. J. McLebd. The club is to be represented nt the South Island pagoaut*on April 29 by the following: " B " pilot events. Flight-Lieutenant 1). M. Allan; "A" landing competition, Mr. 11. G. Tappenden; "A"' bombing competition, Mr. K. R. .Boucher; "A" licence acrobatic competition, Mr. G. Lewis. The next pilots' danco is to bo held on May 27. A total of 6020 hours 45 minutes has boon flown by the club machines. The number of hours flown for the week ending April 13, is made up as follows: Dual, 50 minutes; passenger, four hours; solo, 20 minutes; hire, Seven hours 20 minutes; tost, 25 minutes; miscellaneous, one hour 45 minutes. " UNSINKABLE " 'PLANE A new typo of three-seat reconnaissance biplane ordered by the Air Ministry for use in the Fleet Air Arm. is fitted with special flotation gear which makes it practically unsinkable. Most of the interior of tho fuselage is filled with air bags and recent tests have proved the value of the system not only in facilitating salvage of a machine after a forced descent on the water, but also in affording tho crew increased chances of rescue. One of theso aeroplanes, which bear the typo name Fairey " Seal," was deliberately " landed " on the sen. A naval pinnacj struck it accidentally whilo it was floating and damaged the tail unit and fuselage. A few minutes later a large warship ran it down, driving it completely under water, but the machine bobbed up on tho other side of tho vessel, apparently little the worse..