AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20536, 11 October 1928, Page 9

AVIATION

CIVIL AEROPLANE PARKS. A CHAIN IN LONDON. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, October 9. Work has been begun in connection with the first great civil aeroplane park on the outskirts of London, near Hounslow. It will be the first of a chain encircling London to meet the demands of owner pilots. It will combine the facilities such as are generally provided for motorists —namely, lock-up garages, workshops, filling stations, and a clubhouse. The parks will be available for the small business man’s plane and for the great air liners. The organisers are confident that in a few years hotels will be necessary at each park to accommodate flyers.—Australian Press Association. FLIGHT OF THE ZEPPELIN. EVERYTHING IN READINESS. LONDON, October 9. A message from Frederikshavn states that the Graf Zeppelin is fully provisioned, with her passengers standing by, in readiness for the transatlantic flight. The departure to-morrow morning is doubtful, as the weather reports may cause a delay. The proposed route is over the Saar Basin, across France and the Bay of Biscay. Then the weather will determine whether the airship will fly via the Azores or north.—Australian Press Association. THE ROYAL AIR FORCE. TEST OP SEAPLANE DOCKS. f (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 9, A test was made at Southampton yesterday by Imperial Airways of the value for commercial purposes of the Royal Air Force seaplane docks. A flying boat was docked and certain routine overhaul work was carried out. The seaplane dock lent for the purpose is normally with the fleet at Portland. The speed with which aircraft can be docked and the time required for normal maintenance operations as compared with that needed in a shore base were considered. Further tests will be made to determine whether there would be any financial advantage in using a floating dock in preference to a shore base on the England-India-Australia route, which will be operated by flying boats. AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE. IMPROVEMENT OF EQUIPMENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 9. (Received Oct. 10, at 6.5 p.m.) The Australian Prime Minister (Mr S. M. Bruce) has announced that his Government intends to carry out Airmarshall Sir John Salmond’s recommendation for the improvement of the Australian Air Force equipment, involving an expenditure of over £10,000,000 in the next nine years. MOTH PLANES FOR AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, October 10. (Received Oct. 11, at 1.10 a.m.) The Defence Department is inviting tenders shortly from Australian companies for the manufacture of 14 Moth planes, without engines, for use in the Air Force.