IN THE AIR.

Waipawa Mail, Volume L, Issue 2, 19 September 1928, Page 1

IN THE AIR.

AVIATION BOOMING IN AUSTRALIA. PROPOSED NEW ZEALAND SERVICE. SYDNEY, August 31. The great recent flights of Captain Cobham, Bert Hinkler, and KingsfordSmith and Ulm have had the desired effect upon the psychology of the Australian public. An “air sense” has been created which will prove invaluable in the development of aviation. A year or so ago the man in the street said, “The ground will do me; I wouldn’t go up in an airplane for a thousand pounds.” Now, the man in the street—and after all he is the fellow who will have to foot the hill if aviation is to be put on a sounder footing—says, “I wouldn’t mind taking a flight; I think they have got airplanes pretty well perfect now.” It is Certain that the Government would have been bitterly attacked if, eighteen months ago, it had proposed to spend 'any large sum on aviation; to-day it is commended for its announcement of a grant of £200,000. Really, this is only the outcome of the flights of Cobham, Hinkler, and Kingsford-Smith. And so, with Major Brearlev abroad buying the latest thing in big three-engined airplanes for the West Australian-South Australian air mail service, and the Dornier-Wal Company putting out feelers for a possible subsidy for a great flying-boat service between Australia and New Zealand, aviation in Australia is booming. The aero clubs in all the States and some established in the country towns are experiencing a wave of interest and prosperity. Everybody’s thoughts are in the

The West Australian-South Australian service, carrying both passengers and mails, will commence in April of next year, and the Federal Government has already approved the scheme for eleven up-to-date landing grounds between Kalgoorlie and Adelaide, whilst between Kalgoorlie and Forest —right across that great, lonely Nullabor plain, windswept and treeless—there will be a four hundred milelong chain of beacons which will act as directional safeguards during the night flying. The main aerodromes in Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth are to be greatly improved. Goodness knows, those in Sydney and Perth badly need improvement. The proposed service between Australia and New Zealand is much more nebulous, and it is doubtful if anything will come of it for a year or two. It is significant, however, as an indication of the way the aerial wind is blowing- at the moment. Mr Lars Brundahl, of Sydney, who is temporarily acting for the Dornier Wal enterprise, has an ambitious scheme in contemplation. The big multiple-engined flying-boats which would be used in the event of the Australian and New Zealand Government supporting the proposal, would have a flying range of 2000 miles, and would carry fifteen passengers and their luggage in the non-stop trip across the Tasman. That is, fifteen passengers besides two pilots, a navigator, and wireless operator and probably other staff. Mr Brundahl and others are enthusiastically preparing the finalising plans, and options over the services of experts have been secured. Even Hinkler has been approached with an offer to act in an advisory capacity if the scheme reaches fruition.

The airmen are apparently evincing great interest in the development of flying-boats and amphibians, and this is shared in a degree by the general public, as was shown by the great crowds which inspected the British Supermarine flying-boats which were recently anchored in Farm Cove. This flight from England, showing the extraordinary efficiency of these craft, certainly enlightened the public, of Sydney.