FIRST AERIAL BEACON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23001, 2 October 1936, Page 4

FIRST AERIAL BEACON

AID TO NIGHT FLYING HAMILTON RESIDENT’S ENTERPRISE (Per United Press Association) HAMILTON, Oct. 1. Through the enterprise of Mr H. D. Caro, Deputy Mayor of Hamilton, the first aerial beacon imported into New Zealand is in course of erection at Hamilton. Possessing 3,C00,000 candle power, the light will be visible to aircraft flying at 2000 ft for a distance of 25 miles in any direction, an intricate mechanism revolving the lamp three times a minute.

The beacon, which is being erected in a steel welded tower 70ft above the ground, possesses dual lamps, and an ingenious automatic device provides a 100 per cent, safety factor. Should one lamp be blown out, the voltage is slightly raised and heats a strip of metal which expands and swings a second emergency lamp of a similar type into position inside the projector, and within a few seconds the lamp is again functioning normally. At the same time a circuit is established to a red signal lamp which lights to reveal to the serviceman that the beacon is operating on its second lamp. The beacon, designed and constructed by an American firm, is the first of a chain to be erected throughout New Zealand by the British Neon Corporation. The expenses are stated to borne by private firms and individual;., but later it is anticipated that they will be chartered by the Government. The beacons are of the standard type employed throughout the American transcontinental airways.