ANZACS AS AVIATORS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3565, 27 September 1916, Page 5

ANZACS AS AVIATORS.

Recent war cables contained an item to the effect that 200 men wore to be selected from the Anzac Contingents on the ■ Somme front for training as aviators, as their adaptability for this class of work was highly appreciated by the war authorities. A private communication from a well-known motorist, who, for some time, has hold a commission in the Royal Flying Corps, states that the British Air Service has assumed^ huge proportions, and that this crack corps comprises a large number of Australians, Canadians, and South Africans. The motorist in question, who hails from thc.Riverina district/ is now a second pilot (the ambition of all flying men) aboard a fast high-seated fighter. The machine develops 120 h.p., carries one quarter of a ton of petrol (allowing <i flight of sis hours), can fly at 15,000 feet, and is exceptionally fast. On two consecutive days this machine made trips of 250 miles, scouting over the oncmy's lines. Engine bearing troubles arc the bugbear of the aviators, the planes themselves now giving very little trouble. It appears that tho engines arc mostly run "full out," with the result that the "Gnome" bearings generally reqxiire attention after about 20 hours' use. On tho big stationary engines, 60 hours' .working is generally, the maximum servioo before the bearings have to be attended to. Windage gives veTy little trouble when up 2000 feet.