MINISTER’S FORECAST.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20233, 17 February 1934, Page 19 (Supplement)

MINISTER’S FORECAST.

Night Flight Essential on Mail Routes. LONDON, February 6. The Secretary for Air (the Marquess of Londonderry) returned to England to-day after his 16,000-mile air tour in the Middle East and India. Referring to Empire air mail routes, Lord Londonderry said that attention would have to be turned immediately to the acceleration of the services by night-flying, as the public would certainly demand faster passenger and mail services. He expressed the opinion that fewer obstacles would be placed in future in

the way of commercial aviation, as all countries apparently were appreciating the advantages of air transport and desired an extension of facilities. Lord Londonderry recalled that when he was flying in the mountain ranges to Quetta, in India, the plane dropped 2000 feet in ten seconds, while a heavier baggage plane, which was following, shot up 4000 feet in a minute, showing the vagaries of the air. R.A.F. Units Praised. Lord Londonderry arrived at . Croydon in the air liner Hengist. A light plane in which Lady Londonderry flew to Croydon to meet her husband, made a forced landing at Biggin Hill aerodrome, but she continued the journey in another plane, arriving shortly after the Hengist had landed.

Lord Londonderry expressed great satisfaction at having been able to obtain first-hand knowledge of British air units abroad and of the high standard of efficiency which was maintained. He expressed particular appreciation of the work of the Royal Air Force on the Indian frontier when, in close conjunction with the Army, it assisted in maintaining law and ordsr w T ith a minimum expenditure of life and money. ,