AVIATION NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22475, 10 November 1934, Page 20

AVIATION NOTES

(By “Contact”) Fixtures. The monthly bombing competitions scheduled for to-day have been postponed until next Saturday. Wednesday, November 14.—Official opening oT the Gore hangar and club house at Gore. Saturday, November 17.—Visit of pilots from Otago Aero Club and special competitions. Also Pilots’ meeting in the club house at 4 p.m. Club News. Owing to the inter-club competition with Otago being held to-day week, it has been decided to postpone the local club competitions until Saturday next; when it is hoped that a representative gathering of committee members and their friends, as well as pilots, will be present. The public is cordially invited to witness the display and no charge will be made for admittance to the aerodrome. The extension of time for receivingentries for the Southland Times Scholarship to permit Flight-Lieutenant Smith to visit certain country districts has been amply justified by the additional entries secured. As there will be no competitions to-day there should be a large number of Invercargill entrants at the aerodrome to undergo their flying tests. Last Saturday a flight to Stewart Island was undertaken in ZK-ADC (Fox Moth) with Pilot A. N. Patterson at the controls and E. R. Curtis as passenger. From the aerodrome to Stewart Island, including the climb to 10,000 feet, occupied 45 minutes. Twenty minutes were spent circling Halfmoon Bay and after again climbing to 10,500 feet the return journey occupied only 20 minutes. Pilot J. McC. Smith flew a passenger to Dunedin on Saturday, via Kaitangata, the trip taking 1 hour 30 minutes. He returned to Invercargill on Sunday in 1 hour 20 minutes, experiencing good flying weather throughout the journey. . • Piloted by Flight-Lieutenant Smith, with Mr J. E. Cuthill as passenger, ZK-ADB made the return journey to Heriot in 1 hour 40 minutes. While there nine entrants for the Flying Scholarship took their test flights and four joy-rides added to a creditable day’s flying. A similar journey to Wyndham occupied 40 minutes return, and a further six entrants did their best to gain the instructor’s approval. Six Invercargill aspirants for the coveted Scholarship were put through their paces by Flight-Lieutenant Smith at the aerodrome. I have the greatest pleasure in recording two events of unusual interest, especially to pilot members. Firstly Miss D. Paterson again took the air for the first time since her illness. Although medical men are usually cautious in giving an opinion, we heard one of that fraternity wagering his skill against that of our lady pilot. However, we did note that there was no money to back this rash optimism.

Secondly, “Vic” arrived on a highpowered mount and all present- expressed their pleasure at the attendance, after such a lengthy absence, of this capable and popular pilot. I sincerely hope that we will not have to wait another three months before seeing him again at the controls. During the week-end, Pilots Crombie and Williamson from Gore took to the air after a fairly lengthy spell. A 45-minute flight to Bluff was undertaken by Pilot A. Calvert with a passenger, while flying time was also increased by Pilots Cameron, Mitchell and Tattersfield.

A 10-minute aerial dog-fight, between Flying Officer Gilkison and Pilot A. Mclntosh, interested spectators on Sunday afternoon, but I must admit that the former showed the benefit of his training at Wigram. Gore enthusiasts are to be highly commended upon the way in which they have fostered aviation in the district and upon the erection of club rooms and a three-machine hangar on the aerodrome at Mr John Hanley’s property, Knapdale Road. Much of this progress has been at the hands of Mr F. Wallis, jun., to whom a large share of the credit is due, and it is hoped that there will be a large attendance on Wednesday afternoon to mark this milestone in the history of this progressive township. As many club machines as possible will undertake the flight to Gore and no doubt a formation flight over the town and a flying display at the aerodrome will take part in the proceedings. Invercargill pilots willing to make the trip are requested to advise Flight Lieutenant Smith so that arrangements may be finalized. American Claims.

From figures disclosed in a report of the American Manufacturers’ Association it is claimed that the United States leads the world in air exports, and that American aeronautical products are now more widely used than those of other nations. ■Whereas Great Britain led in 1931 with sales totalling 8,441,000 dollars followed by the United States with exports valued at 4,867,000 dollars, in 1933 the positions were reversed with American sales totalling 9,203,000 dollars and British 6,210,000 dollars.

Research Signifies Progress. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (U.S.A.) has been allotted £lOO,OOO by the Public Works Administratio:. for the construction of a 500-mile-an-hour wind tunnel. This wind tunnel was felt to be of great need. N.A.C.A. researches indicate that aeroplane speeds upward of 500 miles an hour are obtainable, but knowledge is lacking as to the natural laws governing air-flow above 200 miles an hour, and consequently higher attainable speeds cannot be used with safety. The necessary new knowledge can be reliably obtained only by scientific investigations in a high-speed wind tunnel of such a nature.

The project not only has the unanimous endorsement of the members of the National Advisory Committee, but also the support of responsible Government officials. The new tunnel will be constructed at the N.A.C.A. laboratories at Langley Field, Virginia. Eight thousand horsepower will be required to attain an air-flow of 500 miles an hour through a test chamber eight feet in diameter. The wind tunnel, which will be built of reinforced concrete with steel plates lining the walls, will measure 154 feet by 51 feet and will be 25 feet high and is expected to be completed within a year.

Singapore-Darwin Air Route. The inauguration of the final link in the Empire air mail route’ from England to Australia is now scheduled for the present month, and will be officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester. From Singapore the machines will fly via Batavia, Samarang, Sourabaya, Bima and Dilli to Darwin.

Pobjoy Engines. Owing to increasing business, Pobjoy Airmotors Ltd are erecting a modem factory on the municipal aerodrome at Rochester (England). Hitherto, Pobjoy motors have been produced in old Air Force sheds at. Hooton Aerodrome, which are certainly not best suited to economical and modem methods of production. The Pobjoy business has expanded considerably during the past year and is likely to expand very much more as a result of the performance of the two Pobjoy Niagaras which won toe King’s Cup in a Monospar. The winning of the race round toe Isle of Wight by Flight-Lieutenant Pope in a Comper Swift confirms toe running of other Pobjoy motors. Also flights which have been made to Australia, toe Cape and over the Andes from Argentina to Chile and back, show that there is nothing inherently wrong with the Pobjoy motor. Unfortunately a certain number have been used inside experimental cowlings in other makes of aeroplanes, and have suffered from overheating. This has definitely not been the fault of the motor, as practically every aircooled engine which has performed well inside certain cowlings has suffered from overheating when the cowling has been unsuitable. This explanation should remove toe anti-Pobjoy prejudice which has grown up in certain foreign countries—probably fostered by anti-British propaganda.

Australian Built Monoplane. The first low-wing monoplane to be constructed in Australia is the Wicks Wizzard built and designed by Mr G. N. Wikner, of Brisbane. For over five years Mr Wikner has specialized in the design and construction of aircraft, and the Wicks Wizzard is toe third and most successful. In addition to a ground engineer’s certificate, Mr Wikner also holds his private and commercial pilot’s licenses and is now in England where he hopes to undertake further aircraft construction work.

The Wicks Wizzard is an externally braced low-wing monoplane, powered with a Cirrus II engine, and has accommodation for a pilot and one passenger, the passenger’s cockpit being totally enclosed. Streamline “spats” are fitted to the wheels. On toe test flight this machine took-off very rapidly and showed great manoeuvrability with a top speed of 120 miles an hour.