ALONG THE SKYWAYS

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19125, 9 December 1933, Page 18 (Supplement)

ALONG THE SKYWAYS

(By “Pilot.")

THE FLYING DOCTOR AID BY AIR MAIL. WEST AUSTRALIAN SERVICE. The Vacuum Oil Company advises that for over 12 years the North-West (Western Australian) air mail service has performed invaluable work in the saving of many lives by bringing medical service within the reaoh of settlers in the far North living within the range.of the mall route, and the Australian Inland Mission has announced Its desire to supplement this service by the establishment of bases in Western Australia for the operation of its Flying Doctor scheme. This move Is particularly significant, not only to the “mantle of safety" the Flying Doctor throws over the country within range of his base, but also in Its Influence on expansion of settlement, and on the development of aviation. Men may gamble with accident and illness in search of wealth In new country, but before undeveloped lands can be ocoupled by women and children the guarantee of safety of prompt medical attention must be provided. The most trivial accident, the most trifling illness, If not understood may take its toll of the soanty population of the far North country, and only experience can sTFow what suffering can be alleviated by medical service to stations hundreds of miles apatt and weeks of travel from the nearest town, l’o these the wireless equipment of the Australian Inland Mission’s Flying Doctor organisation brings rapid communication with expert knowledge, and the aeroplane shortens the days or weeks to a few hours In which, a doctor's attention can he secured. To the people of the southern portion of the State it is difficult to appreciate the value of the peace of mind and sense of security the aeroplane has brought, and is to bring, to the little station communities of the’ undeveloped North.

Service Appreciated. It is this sense of security, the knowledge that one may venture far Inland oh new .enterprises without hazarding human lives, whloh must play a tremendous part in populating the empty spaces of Australia, and time alone will prove the incaloulablo value of the Plying Doctor to the Australian nation In this direction. And to all it must be perfectly obvious that this service lies within the province of the aeroplane alone, with its ability to cover great distances in a few hours, unhampered by the condition of the ground below' in the rainy season, or by tortuous tracks through hilly country. Thus to the pioneers the aeroplane is brought into its proper perspective. Curious and Interested regard for something new in the backblooks is replaced by keen appreciation of 1 the worth of aviation which usually produces complete faith in the aeroplane as the great safeguard of the empty North. people have gained their first sight of an aeroplane when one has been used in a life-saving race over hundreds of miles. The complete efficiency of its service teaches a lesson which can never bo forgotten, and so the growth of the air mind goes on.

WORLD’S FASTEST LINE. SPEEDY AMERICAN SERVICE. Establishing a new standard of service, the United Air Lines ushered the air transportation business Into a new' era of progress when it placed in service recently tho first 20 units of its forthcoming fleet of 60 low-winged Boeing transport planes. These are now’ operating on the San Franclsco-Chlcago-Ncw York link of the United system, and tho Vacuum Oil Company advise that, before the end of the year this type of carrier will he in service on all United air routes.

These huge ten-passenger, allmetal machines (the fastest of their class in tho world) arc the most modern product of the Boeing aeroplane factory in Seattle, Washington. Powered with two 530 h.p. Wasp motors, they have a cruising speed of 170 miles per hour, and a top speed of 190 miles. Without refuelling they can cruise over 600 miles. They have cut the flying time of from San Francisco to New York Cily to less than 20 hours, as compared with 27 hours under old schedules, and have

AVIATION NEWS AND VIEWS. PROGRESS IN AERIAL DEVELOPMENT.

brought Chicago within 14 hours of the Pacific Coast points. Despite the high cruising speed which makes this schedule feasible, one of the most desired features In aeroplane development ability to land at a comparatively low speed—characterises the operation of the United’s new type of machine. Though having a top speed of 190 miles an hour at an altitude of 5000 ft., fully loaded, it lands at only 58 m.p.h.

LIVESTOCK BY AIR. TRANSPORT IN AUSTRALIA'. Livestock represents an Important item In aerial freights on Western Australian Airways mail services, The transport of day-old chickens Is again in full swing, while the East-West shipment of Angora and Chlnohllla rabbits and the back loading of flnohes for the eastern States has re-com-menced. These are a few of the freight Items appearing regularly on the aerial manifests. Air transport is ideal for them; but they represent only a small proportion of the peouliar range of goods to which air transport Is particularly suited. Two interesting consignments recently were a supply of serum for a country town in South Australia and an X-ray tube for a hospital at a north-west port, the delivery of both of which to meet the urgency of their respective cases was only possible by air. Other freight items, equally as interesting if more prosalo, Include parcels ranging from a few ounces to over a hundred pounds In weight of medicines, artificial teeth, spectacles, Jewellery, cut flowers, plants, seedlings, drapery, clothing, millinery, boots and shoes, motor and machinery parts.

MILITARY AIRCRAFT. FAST BRITISH MACHINE. Published in the monthly bulletin of Information of the Department of Ovorseas Trade (which means it is the British Government speaking) : "The much-lauded new productions (fighters) of the French, United States, and Italian factories reach maximum speeds ranging up to 235 m.p.h. .employing highly boosted engines and fuel of much higher antidetonation quality than Is burnt by the Royal Air Force. • .... In other words, the lead now olaimed for certain foreign aeroplanes Is illusory. “Recently the Air Ministry has authorised the announcement that a single-seater fighter (Ilaw'ke Super Fury) which is going through official trials is expected to attain a speed of 250 miles an hour with full military load —and the load carried by British single-seater fighters Is considerable. The Ministry stated bluntly that the new' oraft, which -has been developed from the standard Hawker "Fury" interceptor fighter, Is ‘the fastest military aircraft in the world.’ "