AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23830, 9 June 1939, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

EQUIPMENT WITH NEW PLANES FRONT-LINE STRENGTH OF 250 (From Oun Own Correspondent) SYDNEY. May 26. Exclusive of domestic production potentialities under the British Air Mission’s scheme, the Australian Air Force should be equipped with at least 250 front-line warplanes within 18 months. This figure excludes the present strength of Avro Ansons, Hawker Demons and Seagulls, which mow provide the backbone of the nation’s defence in the air. They have served a useful purpose, but are obsolete. When the new planes arrive all these three types will probably be relegated to the training depots, or as reserve strength to some of the air stations now being formed. The first of the Lockheed Hudsons, 50 of which have been ordered from the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. California, is expected to arrive next month. The remainder will follow in quick succession, and all should be here by Christmas. The Hudson is still on the secret list, and is likely to remain on it for some time. Beyond that it is a twin-engined, long-range reconnais-sance-bomber, little is known of it. The machine is a formidable fighting unit, with a speed and range ideally suited to Australian requirements. The Minister of Defence, Mr Street, has stated that a number of the new

Bristol Beauforts have been promised to Australia, with final delivery this year. It is believed that the number is 50. This is the type that the British Air Mission recommended for manufacture here, and was described by the mission as superior in all departments to any of its class being made in other countries, or even under consideration elsewhere. The machine is to be powered by two Taurus engines and the gun-turret amidships will be power-driven. The Taurus engine is the latest in British-made power units. It has been the subject of long experiments. The Minister of Supply (Mr Casey) has decided that the 200 engines for the first 100 Beauforts to be made here will be imported from England. Even the most highly skilled Australian technicians will encounter many difficulties in constructing, from scratch, the extremely complex Taurus engine. Ultimately, as Mr Casey points out, the Australian workman will master the Taurus engine, but many delays will be averted by importing the first 200. Building the air frames and guns will be relatively simple, although the problem of instruments still exists. Finally, in the aggregate of Air Force strength, are the Wirraways, 150 of which have been ordered from the Commonwealth Aircrafl Corporation, of Melbourne. The first of this type has been test-down, and should shortly be delivered for active service. The Aircraft Corporation works is expected to work to a weekly production schedule of perhaps two. or even three. The full order of 150 should be filled well before the end of 1940.

The Times Classified Columns give you maximum distribution value Office open till 11.30 p.m.

A young Auckland woman who nevertheless considers herself just not young enough to be truthful about her exact age, suffered considerable embarrassment when renewing her motor driving licence a few days ago. One of a long queue of people who wore waiting for the same > purpose, she handed her filled-in form to the traffic officer on duty behind the counter. After checking her application, however, he fixed her with a stern eye. “Madam,” he said, in the full hearing of the bystanders. “ do you realise that you are five years younger to-day than you were last year.”