AIRISMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 14

AIRISMS

As a “stunt” to draw attention to its art union which is now proceeding, the Auckland Aero Clul} took advantage of the large attendance at Eden Park on Saturday and utilised a large kite to carry a pennant 20ft by 6ft to a height of about 200 ft. One of the club’s planes piloted by Major Cowper, flew over the ground. Exports of airplanes built, in the United States for the first quarter of 1929 were double those of the same period last year in point of value. One more sign of peaceful penetration from the air. Among the latest inventions for airplane comfort is the “hour-meter,” ■which registers actual flying time. The clock begins to keep time when the wheels of the plane leave the ground and stops running when the plane again touches. The Air Train New and interesting possibilities of air transport development are opened up by the successful completion in Germany of tests with towed gliders. The fact that two motorless machines at once -were hitched to what might be called the “tug” airplane and were able to uncouple from the source of power at will and land, gives food for thought. Little is as yet known about the conditions under which the tests were held. How the couplings and uncouplings were made and how accurately the trailers ftould be landed are matters not yet clearly indicated. The use of trailers with motor trucks has proved highly successful in heavy transport. It is stimulating to the imagination, to say the least, to picture an air train of the future bound, let us say. from Auckland to Wellington. The leading plane, furnishing all the power, might well be loaded for the Capital City, the first trailer for New Plymouth, the second trailer plane for Wanganui. As the Taranaki landing-field was reached the last car of the train would simply uncouple and descend. The process would be repeated by the middle plane at Wanganui, leaving the powered ship to fly alone to the end of the route.