Travel by Plane

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 714, 13 July 1929, Page 2

Travel by Plane

Flying Today Holds Few Terrors for the Tourist

B LYING is far too dangerHow often one hears that mischievous remark from people who have never seen a machine nearer than a thousand feet overhead! The normal risks for travel by road and rail are inconsiderable . (writes Captain A. S. Wilcoekson, who has flown more than half a million miles), but they must be small indeed to compare favourably with British air transport. For nearly five years machines of Imperial Airways have flown a total of 4,000,000 miles, carrying 96,638 passengers, in addition to over 3,000 tons of freight. Yet in only one instance—if we except the recent tragedy over the Channel—has there been any serious mishap! Pilots’ reports, ground engineers’ examinations and, finally, regular 24hourly inspections by experts holding Air Ministry certificates, reduce those risks till they are almost nonexistent. Even Germany, with all her admitted efficiency in aerial organisation, cannot better the British record. It is certainly unequalled by any other country. “Air travel is so expensive!’’ That is another pet phrase of those who, repeating parrot-like the ignorant remarks of others, are actively engaged in hindering our aerial progress. Fourpence a Mile! Nowadays 18 travellers are seated in comfortable arm-chairs, electric heaters warm the air, and a buffet attendant awaits their behests. For seventy-five shillings they reach Paris, from London, in two and ahalf hours, 220 miles at roughly 4d a mile! For the same rate they can complete a 4,000-mile trip covering most of the Continent. Although this is travel de luxe at a cost less than that offered by many medium-powered cars, there are still people who make the most of that "expense” fetish! “Air travel might make me ill!” Still another and quite mythical bogey paraded by the timorous and those who have nightmare memories of cross-Channel steamers! Owing to recent advances and inventions passenger ’planes are now being flown, as a matter of course in weather that, ten years ago, would have been described as "impossible.”