AERIAL ACTIVITIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21102, 12 August 1930, Page 7

AERIAL ACTIVITIES.

MAJOR-GENERAL YOUNG’S REPORT. (From our Firmament art Reporter.) WELLINGTON, August U.. Aerial activities are referred to in the annual report of Major-general R. Young, of the Defence Force of New Zealand, presented to Parliament to-day. He says that at the Wigram Aerodrome the department maintains 17 machines, which are comprised of the following:—(1) Service machines—three Glostcr Grebes and six Bristol fighters (the latter being>ohso- , lescent); (2) training machines—four Avro 504 K. and four D.H. Mothe. .Of this latter class it is considered that the Avro machines should be disposed of and replaced by four DJI. Moth aeroplanes. The aerodrome has been maintained in good order, and minor ' improvements effected. The provision of a hangar' and up-to-date workshops at Sockburn is at present under consideration. It is hoped to have the air force base at Hobsonvule. . Auckland, in full working order before the end of the year. Discussing' civil aviation the report says: The dcvlopment of civil aviation in New Zealand has been retarded by the cost of providing adequate ground organ!* sation and the .difficulty experienced in - selecting suitable landing grounds. Local bodies throughout the Dominion, however, now ; realise their responsibilities in this direction, and are makng strenuous efforts to 'provide -suitable aerodromes in their own districts. . Selected areas' on possible s air line routes are being constantly examined and classified by Air: Force officers. At present there are in the Dominion, apart from the two Air Force stations, seven aerodromes licensed (or. the use of light planes and 12 others in various stages of> development. -There are 14 aero clubs, ‘of which seven are actively» training pilots. Some of these clubs have provided their own aeroplanes, and others intend to obtain pilot instruction, by arrangement with stronger clubs or commercial firms. Five of theSe clubs. Vie., the Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and East Coast, Wellington, Marlborough and Canterbury Aero Clubs, have been approved by the Government for the ■ purposes cf the subsidy, and each club, except Wellington, has received two Moth aeroplanes, making a total of nine Government planes on J oan .,f° (dubs. The Wellington Aero Club will receive a second machine when the club has made further progress. It is not possible to subsidise all dubs which apply l for Government assistance, and the present intention is to recommend a total of 'seven aero clubs for the Government « ra nt. „® lnce inception of the aero clubs 76 members have received ab initio pilot training, and have qualified for their flying certificates. During the past year three Moth aeroplanes, which were seriously damaged during pupil instructum, have been completdy rebuilt at the Wigram Aerodrome at the Govern- £ Xpense ‘ clubs subsidised b^i h ?. Gov . e^nrnent have held air pageants with the object of raising funds and fostering the'air sense of the general public. mnnWri s three or .four service Force officers, have participated. As' yet no civil ait hnes have commenced .operations in the r£,v^ n i? n ‘ companies—the Goodwin. Chichester Aviation-Company and the SSfr Ltd.—have been ontaxTworfc 18 months in aerial