AIR TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 238, 8 October 1928, Page 7

AIR TRAFFIC.

GERMAN ZEPPELIN.

Trans-Atlantic Voyage Starts On Wednesday. FARE £600 SINGLE. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) BERLIN, October 7. The Zeppelin LZI27 will leave Germany for New York on Wednesday. Among her passengers will be several Ministers, including Herr von Guerard (Communications), Dr. Drzesinski (Prussian Minister of the Interior), and Major Bramdenburg (Permanent Secretary of Air). The fare from Friedrichshafen to NewYork has been fixed at £600. Seventeen passengers have so far reserved berths.

CROSS-CHANNEL FARES.

IMMEDIATE REDUCTION. (United Service.) LONDON, October 7. Imperial Airways, Limited, announce an immediate reduction in the crossChannel air fares from London to Paris. The single first-class fare is reduced from £5 15/6 to £4 15/, and the second-class from £4 14/6 to £3 15/. Nine years ago the single fare from London to Paris was £21. The fare from London to Brussels has been reduced from £5 to £3 10/.

SURE OF SUCCESS.

WILKHTS FOR SOUTH POLE.

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association.)

RIO DE JANEIRO, October 7.

Sir Hubert Wilkins arrived at Rio de Janeiro yesterday on the Southern Cross. He says he will embark on the Norwegian whaler Hestora at Montevideo and proceed immediately to Deception Island. There he will establish his first base and assemble his 'planes. The explorer says his Antarctic expedition will be perfectly organised. He is confident of success. A powerful wireless set will be established at one base to keep in touch with the expedition and to report to the. outside world.

USELESS FOR WAR.

AUSTRALIA'S AIR FORCE. SYDNEY, October 7. The report prepared by Air-Marshal Sir John Salmond, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defence of Britain, on the Australian Air Force, says the force is useless for war, owing to the obsolete machines, the absence of reserve equipment, and the low standard of training among the operational units. The replacement of equipment is overdue. Recommendations are submitted for the development of the Air Force, the cost of which will be £1,139,000 a year, compared with £331,000 at present.

TWO DIRIGIBLES.

FOR AMERICAN NAVY.

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) WASHINGTON, October 7. The Goodyear Zeppelin Company has been awarded a navy contract for two dirigibles. These are to cost £1,600,000. They will be larger and faster than any others now built or under construction.

YLANES FOR CHILE.

DE HAVILLAND GIPSY "MOTHS." (" Times " Cables.) LONDON, October 7. The "Times" says the Chilean Government has ordered 40 de Havilland Gipsy "Moth" 'planes.