BOMBER ON VIEW

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22460, 22 September 1944, Page 2

BOMBER ON VIEW

PORTABLE TEST BENCH A huge torpedo bomber-fighter aeroplane anchored in Victoria Street in front of the Chief Post Office created a great deal of interest to-day. It is the chief exhibit of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the special week to create more interest in the £40,000,000 Victory Loan. Pilot-Officer J. A. Lee gave some details of the bomber, but indicated that performance details of the aircraft were still on the 'secret list. “However, it is very formidable in action,” he said. “When you read of raids over enemy-occupied territory by 1000 bombers, all four-engined aircraft, you should realise why petrol restrictions on motor vehicles are necessary. The T.B.F. is designed to operate from aircraft carriers as well as airfields. The pilot, by operating a lever, can fold the huge wings back alongside the fuselage in order that the aircraft will occupy less space for storage purposes." Engine Test Bench

Along the bomber in Victoria Street was displayed a portable engine test bench fitted with a twinrow Pratt and Whitney motor. Test benches like this one, it was explained by Pilot-Officer Lee, were used to run-in all aircraft motors after being reconditioned. Inside the cab of the vehicle, instruments gave a complete record of the motor’s performance, including maximum revolutions, fuel consumption, horse power, oil temperature, oil pressure and supercharger boost. When tne motor was started and speeded up the deafening roar spoke of the power of the engine.

Pilot-Officer Lee, said the display in Bledisloe Hall would reveal the equipment and work necessary to overhaul an aircraft motor. “The propeller repair section,” he said, “should be one of the principal attractions, for there is a lot of intricate machinery used for repairing the variable-pitch propellers. The radiator repair section is also an interesting feature, showing the modern Glycol radiators being repaired for Warhawk aircraft.” Large numbers of people visited the engine repair section in the Winter Show buildings during the morning and afternoon. Exhibits At Rukuhla

On Sunday the public will be given the opportunity to inspect the aircraft repair unit at Rukuhia for three hours from 1.30 p.m. The authorities especially request that all visitors enter'the grounds at Rukuhia via Tamahere, buses and other vehicles proceeding from Hamilton via Hillcrest and Tamahere. One cf the most attractive exhibits displayed at Rukuhia will be the famous Douglas Dakota sky-train as used for dropping parachute troops. Other aircraft to be seen there include the Lockheed Lodestar, Venturas, Hudson troop carriers, torpedo bomber-fighters, Warhawks, Kittyhawks, Dominies, Oxfords, and even a tiny Rearwin monoplane. TELEPHONE RADIO APPEAL TOMORROW’S ARRANGEMENTS With a view to stimulating investments in the Victory Loan a tele-phone-radio appeal throughout the Dominion is to be held tomorrow night, commencing at 7 p.m. The chairman of the Waikato-King Country War Loan Committee, Mr T. H. Melrose, hopes and is confident that a fine response will be made and that the district's quota will be considerably enhanced as the result. All sub-centres on the Hamilton telephone exchange are asked to ring 4700 giving their names and address and the amounts they intend to invest. These promises will be acknowledged over IYA. Subscribers attached to the Hamilton sub-ex-changes are asked to ring their local telephone exchanges and ask for “Victory Loan.” These promises also will be acknowledged over IYA. It is further requested that all promises to invest announced “over the air” be honoured as soon as possible one day during next week, the amount either to be invested in stock or Victory Bonds or deposited in a National War Savings Account.