MORE LANDING GROUNDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21742, 6 March 1934, Page 10

MORE LANDING GROUNDS

NEED FOR AIR TRANSPORT CONDITION OF DEVELOPMENT GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE The necessity for making .adequate provision in New Zealand for future developments in aviation was stressed yesterday by Sir Walter Windham x a pioneer English airman, who is concluding a two months' holiday visit to the Dominion. Ground organisation was the first consideration, Sir Walter said. Given proper landing places and aerodrome facilities, aeroplanes and an understanding of them would follow as a natural sequel. "The day is not far distant when aeroplanes will provide the common mean:? of travel," Sir Walter continued. "Liners will arrive to spend a day in Auckland and overseas visitors will want to see the sights at Rotor u a or fish at Taupo. Aeroplanes will take them thero, give them a few hours in either place and bring them back to Auckland in time to catch their liners.

"Landing arrangements must be the first essential. With all your sheltered harbours and magnificent inland lakes, conditions are ideal for the use. of flying boats or a:nphibian machines. Arrangement:? should be set in train immediately to develop air ports and also land aerodromes! and flying grounds. It is a case of looking to the future, and, owing to the rapid developments in aviation, s. future that is not far distant."

Sir Walter also considered that a regular trunstasman air service would be in.operation much.sooner than most people imagined. Aircraft were being perfected to such an extent that weather conditions constituted no obstacle* to successful flight. Multi-engined machines, embodying recent innovations in aeronautical science, together with the exploring of the upper would make rapid flight across oceans as safe as an ordinary sea voyage. There was no reason why the Melbourne Centenary air race from London should not be extended to New Zealand, Sir Walter continued. If extra prize-money were offered, ho had no doubt that the majority of pilots would be sufficiently interested to continueacross the Tr.sman and the result would be an excellent advertisement for the Dominion. However, only machines with two engines or more could be expected i;o make the trip. A transtasman flight in a single-engined machine would lie foolhardy. "I hardly think the Melbourne race will bo won by a British machine," Sir Walter adiled. "Most of the fast aeroplanes to-day are being built by America nnd, although British manpower can accomplish much, a certain amount o:: mechanical assistance is necessary. Britain can still produce the finest speed engines in the world, but therei isi the question of the necessary time for testing. No aeroplane can take the air wiihout every part of the engine having b<en subjected to exhaustive tests. As it is, I am afraid some foreign pilot and foreign machine may win the race, .and this will serve no useful purpose as far as Australia and the Empire are concerned."