DEFENCE AIRCRAFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22059, 15 March 1935, Page 8

DEFENCE AIRCRAFT

NEW BOMBER MACHINES ARRIVAL NEXT MONTH LONG RANGE AND BIG LOAD FOUR FOR HOBSONVILLE [by TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL reporter] WELLINGTON, Thursday The first batch of 12 bomber aircraft for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, built in London by Vickers (Aviation), Limited, are duo to arrive in the Dominion by the Rangitata early next month. The Minister of Defence, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, stated to-day that four machines would be discharged at Auckland and would be fitted up at the Hobsonville Air Base by the staff, under the guidance of an English expert. The type of military aircraft chosen by the New Zealand Government for use in the coastal defence of the Dominion is the latest version of the Vildebeest, which is already in service with the Royal Air Force units. The London Times, writing of th<* New Zealand machines, stated that they had the advantage of a very long range and a big, useful load. "This year," the Times said, "New Zealand will have three regular flights of defence aircraft. It has already a flight of Fairey 111. F. seaplanes for reconnaissance work. The Vildebeests will equip two bomber flights. It has been decided not to use these machines as torpedo bombers, the purpose for which they are to be used in Spain. The torpedo fitting between the undercarriage legs is therefore available for an extra petrol tank, which increases the range at a cruising speed of 122 miles an hour to 1250 miles.

"A military load of over 20001b. may also be carried. This represents a bigger bomb load than is usually taken by a modern bomber. The New Zealand Government may have sacrificed something in speed to obtain range and load, but the aeroplane of its choice has excellent take-off and climbing qualities, high powers of manoeuvre and a fairly slow landing speed. "These features were made evident by the test pilot, in the course of this afternoon's flight. The Bristol Pegasus (620 h.p.) engine is geared to drive a big airscrew and the Vildebeest, with this engine, has a ceiling of 17,500 ft. The pilot's cockpit is set forward of the wings and affords a very good field of vision. From the after cockpit the air gunner may make use of a prone bombing platform, set beneath the pilot. This is fitted with a windscreen, which falls into position as the bombing trap is opened."