COMMERCIAL AVIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21019, 7 May 1930, Page 12

COMMERCIAL AVIATION.

Developments in dominion. AUCKLAND-WELLINGTON SERVICE. (Special to Dailx Times.) . AUCKLAND, May G. A firm belief in the possibility of starting commercial flying .between New Zealand and Australia was expressed by bit W. P. Wiltshire, an English aviator, who has been engaged in commercial flying in New Guinea and who arrived by the Makura from Sydney. “ I expect one of the big Junker monoplanes which are now being used in New Guinea and Australia will start a service between Auckland and Wellington before very long,” he said, “ and I have no doubt there are possibilities of even larger machines being used in a regular transocean service between New Zealand and Australia, via Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. These machines weigh 27i tons and carry 45 passengers or 7i tons of freight. They have four engines and a cruising range of 2500 miles, and while 1 do not anticipate a direct service between Auckland and Sydney I have no doubt that a profitable service is, feasible by using the islands I mentioned as stopping places.”

' Mr Wiltshire is acting as advance agent for Jankers, Ltd., a great German firm of aircraft manufacturers whose representative, Herr T. Sholl, is coming to the Dominion shortly. “Large numbers of light planes 1 of this make have been purchased in Australia; during .the past 18 months,” Mr Wiltshire said. “ They are all-metal machines suitable for club and private use and cost £Boo’in Germany, to which must be added a 20 per cent, duty, together-with £3O for packing and £BO for ..freight. The heaver cabin type is used for passenger and freight services. Neither the light nor the heavier machines require a hangar, all that .is necessary being to peg them • out in the open.” While in the Royal Air Force Mr Wiltshire had several years’ active service in India, wb ere he was engaged in bombing operations v on the northern frontier. In New Guinea, where he was engaged in taking supplies to the inland goldfields, he was one of several pilots using five Junker machines. Malaria, he said, was a source of trouble, but the flying experience between-Port Moresby to Fin itch aaf on the north-east coast or to Rabaul in New Britain was interesting and extremely valuable. Aeroplanes were the only practical means of communication between the various islands.