UBIQUITOUS PLANES.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18929, 26 April 1933, Page 4

ÜBIQUITOUS PLANES.

SERVE MANY PURPOSES. ADJUNCT TO QOLDMININQ. 1 (From a Correspondent,) LONDON, February 28. Two British light cabin biplanes, ordered by Canadian All-Ways from the de Havilland Company, ate intended for use over territory where aircraft reign supreme and unchallenged as a means of transport, in summer they will be employed as seaplanes; In the severe Canadian winter skis Will replace the floats. One machine will be based at Rouyn, "jumping-off” point for one of the largest and most productive mining areas In northern Quebec; the other, from Chapieau, located la Ontario east of Lake Superior, will serve a region which has come Into promlnenoe within the last 12 months. The Immensely rich mines in northern Canada have provided the urge for air services .of a kind that Se not parallelled anywhere else In e world. Year by year a great mining industry is being developed. At present the search for gold Is at the root of the most active work; much prospecting is in progress and many new mines are beginning operations. ’MtJSt of these new sources of mineral wealth lie far from the nearest railhead. The terrain is difficult, and at certain times of year Impassable f£» ground vehicles, The only practical means of transport is, in cold fact; the ilylhg machine. Consequently over the northern regions of all the provinces which make Up the Dominion- are scattered aircraft .bases which link the railway with the mining ■ districts, and miners and prospectors charter an aeroplane just as city, dwellers hire a taxi-cab. Generally the distances travelled are not large, 'ranging between 20 and 100 milflfe, blit .hb Other. .-means of transport exists and loads carried are both curious and varied.

PasSongers fand Fhelflht, ; r Machinery salesmen form one class of user of the ah’ way, Prospectors ily to a point which offers hope of reward, - Government Officials go about their business by air, particularly to Check Up mining claims, and miners, many of whom are very wall paid, often fly to the nearest big town for a week-end holiday. Freight airborne In and out of the: mining camps Is diverse, including fresh vegetables, eggs, dynamite, window glass, ooqk-; lhg stoves, sides of beef add all kinds of merchandise, Average load 1b two passengers or approximately 4001 b of freight; the 300 arid 400 horsepower American aircraft which have done most of this work up to the present,' are, therefore, ,une'conomk> unless very high rates are charged, and the change over to smaller 120 horse-power Craft is sound business,

The “FoXvMoth” biplane has earned a fine reputation in little more than 12 months. Tile seating arrangement Is unusual; three or four passengers travel in a Cabin forward and the pilot has his seat, separate from the passenger accommodation, in a cockpit aft of the wings. It is a firm flying machine, able to carry a heavy load with the limited horse-power available, and exceptionally easy to handle and maintain. Though not designed primarily for high speed, Mr W, L. Hope proved that a "Fox Moth" can be urged over the ground quite quickly When he won the King’s Cup race last year at 124 miles an hour. Among the private owners of u "Fox Moth," which makes an admlrabel chauffeur-driven air "limousine,” is the Prince of Wales, Wh ( o towards the end of last year added one of those craft to his private fleet.