PROGRESS OF AVIATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 106, 6 May 1929, Page 2

PROGRESS OF AVIATION

MANUFACTURING IN BRITAIN RELIABILITY OF MACHINES SUVA, April 11. Air L. J. Brain, one oi Australia’s best-known pilots, passed through {Suva last week ou his way home from a visit to Italy, France, England and America, lie is manager of Quautus, Limited, the pioneer of mail and passenger sexvice companies in Australia, which has a network of air routes over Northern Queensland, and boasts of a magnificent record for safe flying. It was MiBrain who piloted a Moth plane 30 miles out over the Pacific with a Brisbane Daily Alail photographer to meet the Southern Cross on tne last lap of its flight from America to Queensland, Air Brain expressed himself as very much impressed with the keen interest being shown in Italy in aviation, b »lh military and civil. Alussolini was behind the movement, and it followed that the people were. Italian airmen were doing great work and Italianbuilt macniues were entered for all the big competitive events in Europe. France, too, was developing her air resources, but he noted it us a peculiar and enlightening fact that of all the air services running between the Continent and Great Britain discerning travellers, by no means excluding Frenchmen, used, whenever they could, British Imperial Airways machines. In the Uld World, England certainly led the way in aviation, and impciial Airways was recognised as being the most highly organised, most efficient and safest service in existence. Of course, it would be many years before Australia or New Zealand would warrant the consideration of such services. Nevertheless, Air Brain said he had learned much which would be us 3 ful 011 his return. He was also taking back with him some of the latest instruments in use for blind flying.

England had the ball at her feet so far at manufacturing was concerned, if she was only prepared to kick it, sail Mr Brain. British machines had a name lor trustworthiness which no. other nation’s machines could clam. She was very conservative, never rushI ing into the market and publicity with [an idea which had not been thoroughly test* d. For example, he had secu models of aeroplanes which had been usen in expA'?ncnts with the slot*.jd wing as far back ns 1920. But nothing ha: 1 been heard of it until comparatively recently, as it had not beei sufficiently dove oped. The outstanding feature of aviation in the United States was the manner in which big capital was interesting itself in flying. The sound basis upon which aviation has been placed as a result was evident during the rec‘nt slump on the New York Exchange, when aviation company shares held ’their own bravely, and even advanced a point or two when everything else was falling. In Suva. Mr Brain viewed the Albert Park, where the Southern Cross landed last year, and said he could scarcity credit it. It was an ideal landing ground for Aloths, however, and that was all that Fiji would need to worry about, as when development of her vir traffic became advisable flying bo.it:would be used, taking advantage of the quiet waters behind the reefs and the <*reat wide rivers inland.