RAPID ADVANCEMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1935, Page 5

RAPID ADVANCEMENT

PROGRESS OF AIR DEVELOPMENT. MR. HAROLD GATTY AT AUCKLAND. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 12. Mr. Harold Gatty, the Australian-born navigator who flew round the world with Mr. Wiley Post in 1931, arrived by the Monterey to-day to spend a holiday. He is now technical adviser to the United States Army Air Corps. “So rapid is the development of aviation,” he said, “that it is difficult even for those in the business to keep abreast of every new phase.” He expressed the view that within five years all flying would be done at an altitude of 35,000 feet. Within six months there would be a new type of plane with four engines for this type of flying. Speeds would be 50 per cent, greater at 35,000 feet and within two years planes would be flying at 350 miles an hour. There would be no fogs, storms or bumps. Flying now was as safe as any other form of transport, he said. The last hazard had been removed by blind landing, which was a sequel to blind flying. Machines could now take off blind and land blind. Fifty per cent, of the flying in the United States was now done at night.