AVIATION NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 25342, 22 July 1935, Page 3

AVIATION NOTES

(By

“Contact.”)

Club News. The flying competition held at the aerodrome last Sunday comprised a navigation test over a short triangular course. Three pilots tied for first place with 37 points, out of a possible of 40, which reveals an increasingly high standard of pilotage. The results, in order of merit, were as follows: —W. J. Johnston 37, D. W. Cross 37, Dr L. C. McNickle 37, W. Cameron 30, J. McC. Smith 29.

The trophy for this monthly event was awarded to Pilot J. W. Johnston who has considerably the least flying experience of those trying for premier honours.

I desire to congratulate trainees R. Walker (Winton), H. Smythe (Otautau), N. Faulkner (Gore), J. McMillan (Nightcaps) and J B. Collie, upon passing the tests for their pilot’s “A” licenses.

Pilot A. Williamson who now holds his passenger endorsement had two friends up joyriding over Gore during last week.

Dr Abbot, the winner of the ladies’ flying scholarship is a very enthusiastic pupil and this trainee’s steady progress indicates a rapidly approaching “first solo.” As the flying tests in the Eastern District scholarship are almost completed it is hoped that the winner will be announced during the present month.

It is reported that the metal moth ZK-ACF, at present on loan to the Canterbury Aero Club, is piling up a respectable total of flying hours at the northern centre.

F/O W. Duffy flew down from Wigram during last week to examine the local candidates for their pilots licenses.

Increased Ainnindedncss in Britain. Official figures show that no fewer than 136,000 people visited Service aerodromes on Empire Air Day—Saturday May 25—and R.A.F. charities benefited to the tune of £5,600. These figures compare with 79,000 people and £3,200 on the occasion of the first Empire Air Day, held last year. At the time of writing no figures are available regarding the attendances at civil aerodromes, but it is thought that the figure is over 10,000, thus making a grand total of 146,000. These remarkable totals lend interest to the opinion, expressed over the week-end, that Empire Air Day might eventually take the place of the Hendon Display, since, having such a country-wide appeal, it would prove more valuable from all points of view. Our own view is that there is room for both fixtures. While the suburban and provincial Empire Air Day displays will attract hundreds of thousands, drawn by the possibility of being able to touch aeroplanes as well as to watch them, Hendon will hold its place as one of the big outdoor social events of London’s summer season.

It is to be feared that more than one good Service aeroplane must have suffered at the hands of sightseers on Saturday, but what the Government lost on the wings, so to speak, will be regained on the roundabouts. The Air League, and all the aerodromes which co-operated, have most certainly shown (in case anybody doubted it) the interest which Mr., Mrs., Miss and Master Everyman now take in matters aeronautical. Soviet Nomenclature.

The three monoplanes which the Soviet Government decided to build after the recent disaster to the Maxim Gorki are to be named Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Maxim Gorki. Trials of the Pioneers.

It is said of Mr Donald Douglas, the famous American constructor, that he took leave of the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, in 1912, after a model areoplane, launched by him from a dormitory window, had stalled and made a crash landing on an Admiral’s head. Mr Douglas is at present in England. Large “Field” for German Race.

Thirty teams, totalling 155 aircraft, were entereZ for the “German Flight, 1935,” whi/h started from Tempelhof on May 24. The competition lasted six days and the route lay over Silesia, East Prussia, North Germany, down the western frontier and over the Southern States. Australian Pilots’ Licenses.

Certain changes in the conditions affecting the granting of pilots’. Licenses in the various cztegories in the Australian Commonwealth have been brought about recently which may be worth referring to. Holders of the pilot’s “A” licence wishing to carry passengers have to conform to the following requirements: Candidates must now take an advanced training course, and further qualify by carrying out a cross-country flight of not less than fifty miles, and in addition show that they have flown at least twenty-five hours solo. Previously the pilot was granted the necessary permission if he could prove that he had completed forty hours solo, but it was found in many cases that permits had been granted to those who had received no advanced training since taking their original “A” licences, and it was thought desirable to make the additional training course compulsory. “B” licences were, until recently, granted without the necessity for undergoing night-flying tests. Training facilities having improved, candidates are now required to qualify in both night and instrument flying. Flying instructors, who must be the holders of “B” licences, had previously t> undergo an annual test. The regulations have now been revised, and the instructor must renew his permit every six months. It is not, however, necessary for him to subject himself for test if he can show that during the previous half year he has done forty hours’ instructional flying and trained at least two pupils ab initio for their “A” licence. Before obtaining an instructor’s certificate a “B” licence pilot must now prove that he has flown 300 hours solo, whereas previously the minimum flying time was only 200 hours. Singapore’s Super Airport. When the new Singapore civil airport is completed next year it will be one of the very few combined seaplane and landplane stations in the world, and will be one of the few aerodromes in the Old World that has been planned without let or hindrance from the very start. The site lies a mere two miles from the centre of the town and the aerodrome will have a circular form with ample taxiways on the perimeter, scientifically laid out terminal and workshop buildings, floodlighting, a fog strip across the axis, smudge wind indication and full radio services. The radio is being planned by Standard Telephones, who are installing a medium and long wave transmitter, to be operated by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, which will be responsible for communications over a large section of the Imperial route. The landing area will be 1,000 yd. in diameter, and there will be a sheltered anchorage and fully-equipped slipway for seaplanes and flying boats. The entire work will cost something in. the region of a million pounds.