NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE SERVICE

WELLINGTON, August 2. The development of the New Zealand Air Force is dealt with in the Defence report, which was submitted to the House to-day.

The G.0.C., Major-general R. Young, says that the total number of serviceable aircraft held on charge or shortly due to arrive at the Wigram Aerodrome is 16 machines of various tppes, one (DH 50) being a civil type imported for photographic survey work. Of the 15 service type aircraft five machines formed part of the Imperial gift of aeroplanes in 1919, and, as was pointed out in his last report, they are obsolete and therefore difficult and expensive to maintain. It is estimated that with care they can be kept airworthy on present supplies for another 12 months. To all intents the air fleet now consists of five Avros (ab initio training aircraft) an I five Bristol fighters (army co-operation aircraft), indicating a retrograde movement so far as the number of available aircraft is concerned.

In order to equip the composite squadrons to be formed at the Wigram Aerodrome and at Hobsonville it is essential that a definite programme of annual purchase should be laid down and adhered to, and.an increased expenditure on the air services will be. required. A suggested scheme of progressive purchase of service and training aircraft has been prepared. As this programme is spread over a considerable period it is not possible to state definitely the annual expenditure involved, but it is less than £35,000 until the years 1930-32, when the purchase of flying boats ill bring the expenditure up to £50,000. For those two years several alternative schemes and plans of the lay-out of Hobsonyille combined landplane and seaplane station have now been received from the Air Ministry for consideration; and it is proposed to ask for funds to proceed with development work when a decision has been arrived at.

. The time has now arrived when it is of vital necessity that the ab initio training of pilots and the technical training of mechanics should be undertaken to provide an efficient territorial air force. It is proposed to enlist. up to a maximum of 10 cadets for training as pilot;' and to enrol approximately 20 mechanics from trades allied to various air force duties. The cadet pilots w'll, if possible, be drawn

from engineering students at the universities and be given three months' continuous training in flying and service duties, whilst the mechanics will be given training comparable in duration to that of the territorial land forces.

The report also says that the strength of the force is now five officers and 14 other ranks on the permanent staff and 101 territorial officers. The demand for aerial surveys by local bodies is increasing.