N.Z. AIR FORCE

Western Star, 29 March 1940, Page 4

N.Z. AIR FORCE

In connection with New Zealand's determination to, train her quota of air pilots and aircraftsmen for the Royal New Zealand. Air Force, the training these young men are undergoing they are finding very 'interestFrom when they report for' duty .early in the morning until ' the day's work is finished they are constantly keen and interested in the work and the instruction they are receiving. In the pupil pilots' room, they change into their flying, suits, which isquite,an exertion,.- because the--flying suits are close fitting and. require a i little practice' to be properly adjusted. I Zip fasteners that replace buttons, and i a fur collar give a feeling of seclusion - and warmth."' Fur-lined pockets above the knees = for,the hands, and-vertical pockets for charts, and a smaller J pocket for a watch complete the en- ' somble, and they report to their re- ! spective instructors with goggles clean- ; ed and leather helmets adjusted. '* In the plane, after-warming- up the engine, and a. general look round ■ the cock-pit', it is l set in motion—by the pupil pilot or his instructor.

In the air a plane is stable, due to various inventions, but' on the ground it becomes an unstable vehicle that needs to be-taxied with, ease.- In certain high winds assistance is .-needed at the wing tips to ensure safety.' After glancing at the wind soxs, that indicate the direction of the wind, ' the pilot moves the plane ..to the .left, side of the .field, facing the,wind. Certain-positions of the plane, on the,'aerodrome' whether the plane is about to. fly-or is waiting for some purpose or another. This indicates to other, planes,that iheY have the right of way. Those rules, cf' the air are strictly enforced, in > fact, there are special men to note infringements. When all is set for the take, off, the throttl© is .opened full bore antr" the tail slowly raised" from-the groundvand when the machine has--gained-suf-ficient momentum it will glide-into th/>air, a distant-'object h'avinc be?r sighted as a mark to-keep, it i*i tV-_ line. .• • - Aircraft.take-off on the left side and land on /the right side of the drome. Those that have. 5 landed "immediately turn to the left to make way for other planes. If two planes are heading towards each other the' navigation rule is that they both turn to the-right; plane always passes another one on its\ right, either- on the ground or in the air. " ' Needless,to say there is a demand for a high state of efficiency in aircraft. The rigging must he perfect, because the vibration of the engine .would soon, create trouble. The propellor is a. superb work of art. Its balance must be perfect—so .perfect, -in fact, that, an extra coat of varnish on one side ' is used to secure this-delicate adjustment. *lts- ! purpose is to reduce vibration and sidepull'to a minimum—in fact to eliminate it. Insects squashed on the blades during flight are quite sufficient to u% balance its action. So important is the quality of the material that only a certain .number of knots - are allowed in a lenirth ot timber used in the fuselage. The. fabric lused is finest doped-linen. •