Air Base in Sight

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 409, 18 July 1928, Page 8

Air Base in Sight

Auspicious Start Made at Hobsonville

THE construction of the airdrome at Hobsonville has been started, and nearly 40 men are engaged on the work of preparing for the hangars which are to house the planes. Eight Moth machines have been ordered by the Government and these are expected to arrive from England next month. It has not been announced, however, how many will be sent to Hobsonville.

rjtOWARD the end of last year there were indications that the erection of airplane accommodation at Hobsonville would be delayed on account of the State’s slender purse, and it appeared that some time would elapse before a definite step was taken to design the layout completely. A few months ago, however, the Director of Aviation in New Zealand, Major T. M. Wilkes, accompanied Captain L. M. Isitt to Auckland, and together they went over the site and laid their plans for the ’drome. Captain Isitt, who returned from England at the beginning of this year armed with first-hand information on flying development in the Old World, has been on the Hobsonville site since the inspection, and the work which is being accomplished there at the moment, although prim-

When the Defence Department ordered eight Moth airplanes from England recently, it was not revealed how manv of the machines would »’ brought to Auckland, but it is the belief of those who are interested in aviation progress here that the majority of them will find their way to the base on the upper reaches of the Waitemata Harbour. The initial flights of these planes will not only indicate the Dominion's willingness to participate In a general scheme of improved methods of defence, but will throw open the door through which a supply of trained mechanics and pilots might pass if the emergency arises in the future. In addition, the flights will denote a recognition by the New Zealand authorities that military tendency leans toward greater preparedness in the air. There is manifest at the present time, in fact, .an inclination to cut down the proportionate State votes of mone for the development of the army, and conversely to increase the annual grant to facilitate progress in aviation. STATE GRANTS GO ALOFT This is emphasised by the fact that prior to the war approximately £500,000 was spent on defence, but to-day—with an increase in population of something like 10 per cent., and a corresponding rise in the numbers of those eligible for military training—the annual grant hovers around the figure of £450.000. Incidentally the Defence Forces are becoming daily more exclusive, and only the physically fit lads are accepted for admission to the ranks. The General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, Major-Gen-eral Young, stated at Hamilton recently that if the Waikato town could furnish suitable landing grounds, Defence planes would be calling there within nine months. This in itself is a healthy indication of the expectations of the Department, which is pushing the work ahead with the greatest possible speed for the amount of money released. Auckland does not hope to see the bulging shape of an airship swinging majestically from a lofty mast, for the intimation given by the aerial delegation from overseas which visited New Zealand somq months ago was not favourable to this city for the establishment of a mooring mast. Rather did the visiting experts prefer the locality along the west coast in the lower Manawatu district. TOO FAR AHEAD

arily in the hands of the Public Works Department, comes within the sphere of his jurisdiction. For some time a small gang of men has been on the site building huts for the regular construction workers, and the swelling army is now 40 strong. It is anticipated that from 80 to 100 men will be engaged there when operations reach their peak. The whole task of constructing hangars, erecting accommodation for the permanent staff, and completing the general layout, will occupy the greater part of two years. A start on the first hangar is to be made immediately. TO TRAIN PILOTS THIS YEAR Two years will not pass before this nucleus of New Zealand’s permanent air force is moving swiftly along its channel of development, however, for it is the intention of the Government to have air pilots in training at Hobsonville before the end of the approaching summer. Workshops, and buildings incidental to the work at the airdrome, will have to be erected, and when everything is complete, a permanent staff will be engaged.

Airship development is not yet for this country, however, and even if the encouraging results achieved by the builders of the Rloo—the latest and best thing of its kind in the world—are justified in subsequent flights, it is reasonable to assume that New Zealand will be the last point in the world-embracing chain of airship calls. When it is recalled that a mooring mast for an airship will cost anything up to £25,000, and the remaining equipment something like a similar sum, the advocates of airship development here will be content meanwhile to watch the progress of other countries.

As the Government Moth planes are expected to reach the Dominion some time during next month, only a short time will elapse before Aucklanders will see a small fleet of machines encircling the Waitemata Harbour, and hear the steady drone of their engin-