AVIATION GOSSIP

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18158, 24 October 1930, Page 3

AVIATION GOSSIP

By "Eagle”

LIGHT 'PLANE PRODUCTION.

BRITISH FIGURES SOAR. The success of the new type British light aeroplanes—monoplane en-closed-cabln machines in particular—has acted as an Impetus to this important branch of the British aircraft industry. New records in light 'plane construction are being set each month by firms most ifitimately. connected with light aeroplane building and there is no sign of flagging. One constructor, with his factory working day and night, is coping with orders sufficient alone to keep him busy for more than six months at full pressure. This summer lias seen Increased use of aeroplanes for business and holiday travel by the Prince of Wales and his brother Prince George. The Prince of Wales has a private aerodrome on his estate at Belvedere, near Windsor, England, where he frequently ends air journeys from the Continent or from distant points in Great Britain. New contracts for light aircraft totalling £70,000 in value were concluded last week by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. A total of 83 Moth light 'planes is ordered for training and general service duties by the Royal Air Force; the New Zealand Ministry of Defence takes eight aircraft, including one seaplane and ten are to the order of the Chinese Air Corps. Four of the aeroplanes built for China, it is stipulated, shall be equipped with quickly interchangeable float undercarriages for use as seaplanes on the Yang-tze River. These orders from overseas emphasise the- sturdy worth of British light aircraft, which have proved in years of use all over the world their ability to stand up to every kind of hard military and commercial usage. That five of the craft Included in thi3 recent order are seaplanes demonstrates that the performance in this state is adequate even for the ardours of service flying.

A Royal Aerodrome. Now the King has decided to allot an area on his Sandringham estate for use as a private aerodrome by his flying sons. The surface is to be levelled and hangars with space for four light aeroplanes erected alongside. The cost, amounting to several thousands of pounds sterling, is to be borne by the King from his private purse. There could be no finer testimony to the progress in safety and efficiency of the British aeroplane. Both Princes own light aeroplanes. In addition they frequently employ Royal Air Force machines for special longdistance journeys. .

AMAZING FLIGHT. BACKWARDS AND UPSIDE DOWN. Martin Jensen, holder of the world's solo endurance flight record, 1 and second prize winner in the AmerlcaHawaii flight, amazed beholders today by flying backwards in a 100-horse-power biplane while it was upside down. After looping-the-loop, Jensen turned his machine upside down and flew with a 40-mile gale behind him. Then, righting the biplane, he headed it into the wind, turned it upside down and throttled the engine, which nearly stalled. At a speed of 30 miles an hour against the 40-mile head wind, he was carried backwards at about ten miles an hour. The trick was accomplished with the nose of the hiplane elevated.

WAGES OF PILOTS. AUSTRALIAN AND AMERICAN. American air pilots are much better paid than those in Australia. According to an official report, U.S.A. air mail and passenger pilots received an average weekly salary of £27. t*

Top figure—paid by one line to air mail pilots flying at night—was £42 iOs.

In Australia the majority receive about £ls a week. Really crack pilots, men with about 4000 hours behind them, with proved skill and outstanding -qualities, receive up to £2O a week, and one pilot, with allowances. Is paid about £25 a week. Extras. As Is the case with the Americans, the higher figures are not all salary. There is a certain fixed sum a week, and the remainder is made up of pay for special trips, work other than on the airlines, bonuses for non-damage service and so on. In America the average weekly base pay for pilots is only £9 10s. But the pay envelope is fattened by extras averaging 2id a mile for day flying and 5d a mile for night flying. Except for night flying, the Australian pilot has nothing to fear in a comparison with his winged colleagues of America. This is the view of people competent to judge and with a knowledge of both; The Reason Why. i - The pronounced disparity In pay !s due to the fact that in American aviation is a really big business, with tens of millions and w r orld powers like Ford and General Motors behind it, whereas in Australia aviation is as yet only a minor newcomer in the business scheme of things. But Australian aviation has definitely proved itself as an essential to our transport. Enhanced business status and bigger investments must follow'. And then the Australian airline pilot will come into his financial own. After all, it is the pilot who count* most in the flying game.

' AIRISMS. Pratt’s Aerial Sign-posts. The proprietors of Pratt’s petrol have arranged to paint names of places and direction arrows on the roofs of their tanks and depots to assist pilots when flying across country. The letters in which the names will be painted will be 50ft high, and will be visible in fair weather from 2000 to 3000 ft. The company plans to paint these signposts on as many as possible of it* 600 depots. i An Ambitious Atlantic Airliner. A 16-engined seaplane, to carry 100 passengers and provided with 62 state rooms, is to-be constructed by the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation of America for trans-Atlantic service.

Flying In Australia. Totals for all flying in Australia and New Guinea for 1929: — Number of flights .....v 110,058 Miles flown ~', .• • •• • 2,837,936 Hours flown, . 38,052 Paying passengers 82,109 Freight carried 1106 tons Letters carried ........<4. 1,759,178