FLYING SCHOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23401, 18 July 1939, Page 14

FLYING SCHOOL

BLENHEIM AERODROME ACCOMMODATION FOR STAFF PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION LANDING FIELD ALMOST READY ) [by telegraph—own correspondent] WELLINGTON. Monday Although it is only five months since work was started, excellent progress is being made with the construction of the flying training school at Woodbourne aerodrome, four miles from Blenheim. Originally the Royal Now Zenland Air Force station at Blenheim was to have been manned by one squadron of IS officers and 131 other ranks, hut on June 29 the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, announced that the station would be converted into a flying training school capable of an output of 110 pilots a year. The proposal involved the purchase of additional land, the erection of four hangars instead of two, and the provision of technical accommodation and further accommodation for officers and airmen. Since the middle of February, when the construction of the landing field was started, the ground has been levelled and sown in grass, and it will be ready for use as soon as the surface consolidates Foundations Laid About 150 men are working on the building area, and hangars, sleeping quarters and other buildings are beginning to take shape. Foundations have been laid for the recreation hall, Public Works office, ration store, guard house, fire tender station, sick quarters, main store, latrines, practice bomb store, and headquarters building. When finished, the station will have accommodation for 141 officers, 102 non-commissioned officers and 3.10 airmen. It will be one of the most modern flying training schools in New Zealand or Australia. The approaches to the flying field from all directions are excellent. A total of 19f) acres has been sown in grass, which is now growing rapidly. The aerodrome has been built on a shingle bod. which keeps field well drained. No system of drainage was necessary, and it is expected that even in the wettest weather the surface water will quickly soak into the shingle. The runways vary in length from 1000 yds. to 1200 yds., and the field shouid be one of the best landing grounds in Now Zealand when the surface consolidates. Modern Machinery Work is being pushed on rapidly to complete the accommodation in time for the arrival on October 1 of a section of the men who will be stationed at Woodbourne. Flying will not start then, and consequently the contractors are concentrating on the living quarters rather than the hangars. At times work is carried on both night and day, and the most modern machinery available is being used to carry out the construction. The building area covers about 30 acres. The school will be entirely selfcontained. It will have its own sewerage, water supply, stand-by Diesel electric plant, recreational hall, including provision for talking pictures, barber's shop, bootmaker's shop and tennis courts. Good progress lias been made with the construction of the mile and a-half of sealed road in the area, and later when the buildings have been completed lawns and borders of flowers will be laid down.