MORE AIRCRAFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23966, 16 May 1941, Page 8

MORE AIRCRAFT

NEW ZEALAND FORCE " MODERN HUDSONS FINE SERVICE MACHINE lIARVARDS FOR TRAINING [BY TKT.F.OIIAPT? —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. .Jones, states that during the past month a number of Harvard and Hudson aircraft have arrived in the Dominion from the United' States. "The Harvard is a modern .singleengine trainer, which is now extensively used at service flying training schools in the United Kingdom and Canada," said the Minister. "These aircraft will in due course replace the Gordons and Vincents, which have given very good service in the numbers one and two service flying training schools. "The Hudson is a modern high-speed general reconnaissance aircraft of a typo extensively employed on general reconnaissance duties in the Royal Air Force, and has been frequently mentioned in press communiques regarding the activities of the Royal Air Force.

"The arrival of these aircraft will add materially to the air defences of New Zealand," concluded the Minister. One of the first American aircraft adopted by the Boyal' Air Force, the Lockheed Hudson, is used extensively by the Coastal Command for general reconnaissance. Although adapted from a commercial type, the fast: Lockheed 11, the Hudson has proved highly success! ul as a service machine, and numerous New Zealanders serving with the Boyal Air Force have spoken in glowing terms ot these sturdy 5 * monoplanes. Identical machines are already in use in Australia. Fitted with two Wright Cyclone G engines, the Hudson is almost identical with the machine in which the American airman. Howard Hughes, made a success!ul world flight shortly before the war. In the Fnglish models, a turret is fitted on top of the fuselage near the twin rudders, and sufficient armament is carried to deal effectively with any enemy wnrplane encountered during patrols. The machine is made by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, of California. The North-American Harvard is a monoplane trainer, also built in California. it is powered by a Pratt and Whitney radial engine giving 600 horse-' power, and is distinguished by the shrill note of its engine. The Harvard is an enclosed cabin machine.