AIR POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 12

AIR POWER

EMPIRE PILOTS TRAINING PLAN • WORK IN PROGRESS AERODROME SITES By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Recolvcd November 14, 8.10 p.m.) OTTAWA, Nov. 13 It is announced that practical work connected witb the Empiro air training scheme is proceeding. Tho Transport Department is selecting and surveying -aerodrome sites, and hangars and workshops will bo erected during tlio winter.

The financial difficulties encountered in the formulating of tho scheme are -apparently being solved. A genoral conference may possibly bo hold tomorrow. It is officially announced that tho landing fields of Trans-Canada Airlines will be the nucleus of tho training scheme pending the completion of now fields. The number needed has not been estimated officially, but it is believed to'be at least 25. Primarily the responsibility for tho establishment of the scheme rests with .Canada. Twenty-eight aircraft pilots have been lent by the Ontario Provincial Air Service and aro assisting reconnaissance and survey parties. The members of tho Dominions' missions, including tho Australian delegate, Mr. J. .V. Fairbairn, met Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert BrookePopliam, who has arrived from England to assist in tho organisation of tho scheme. "The training scheme is something tho Empire can develop and which Hitler can not," said Sir Robert. "All far-sighted people in the United Kingdom are enthusiastic about the scheme, which shows clearly the Empire's solidarity and tho contributions the Dominions want to make to the cause."

BURMESE SCHEME I - ' FACILITIES PROVIDED (Received November 14, 7.30 p.m.) British "Wireless LONDON, Nov. 13 The Government of Burma hns sanctioned the establishment of an air centre at Mingaladon Aerodrome to "'provide facilities for training young Burmans in flying. AIR RAIDS ON SHIPS HUGE GERMAN BOMBERS HOPES HELD IN BERLIN j>ROM OTJR own correspondent] . ; . LONDON. Oct. 10 German listeners have been promised on the Nazi radio that long-range aircraft will bo used to defeat, the British and French convoy systems in the Atlantic, says a writer •in the Daily Express.Germany has built special bomber aeroplanes, armed with 16 machine-guns,, for this further work of piracy. While in Amsterdam recently, the writer adds, Dutch aeronautical experts told me some of the secrets of these gigantic, heavily armed machines, which may be used to bolster up the failing U-boat campaign. They are known .as Heinkel Sea_ Raiders. Sev- • eral squadrons are said to be ready for immediate" use., The Sea Raiders are claimed to have a range of 8000 miles, and carry a crew of 12, including eight gunners, each of whom ' controls two machine-guns. There is sleeping accommodation for the crew when -the machines are on a long patrol. Experts say the machines could fly far out into the Atlantic, attack merchant ships and return to Germany without refuelling. Perhaps this is the secret weapon of which Hitler said in his Danzig speech last month: "The moment may come when we will bring into use a weapon in which we cannot be surpassed." The British Air Force, it may be said, are fully prepared to deal with any machines' Germany may bring into action.