THE FIRST FIFTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 177, 24 June 1940, Page 2

THE FIRST FIFTY

AIR FORCE TRAINERS DE HAVILAND FACTORY _ PART IN EMPIRE PLAN It is, within a week or so r just a year since the erection of the De Havilland Aircraft Company's factory at Rongotai was commenced. The first six planes—on straight assembly—were flown from Rongotai to Air Force bases in December, and the total number assembled to date is just over 30: By the end of this month 50 trainer planes will have been delivered, and with each week the factory gets near the basis of manufacturing in New Zealand rather than of assembly, and the staff of skilled men and women is being built, in number and craftsmanship towards the full output needed for war effort. Consequent upon New 4 Zealand's decision to expand her arc force, trainers were the first machines needed, and an order was placed at once with the New Zealand De Havilland Company for 100 planes, all Tiger Moths. War came four months later, and the need for still greater Air Force training arose immediately. It is probable, though an official announcement has not yet been made, that the first order for 100 planes will be substantially expanded, and it is probable also that the larger operations will necessitate additional factory buildings; fortunately at Rongotai there are facilities for wide expansion. Creation of Skilled Staff. Half the first order will be met by the end of this month and pro-* duction capacity is only now working up with increasing staff numbers and efficiency. Because New Zealand had no civil aircraft industrjT, other than assembly and maintenance, and because also on the outbreak of war the Government required every available skilled man for Air Force work, a stage by stage plan of development in the aircraft industry was laid down. The first batches of planes were received from Britain largely assembled and requiring final erection rather than assembly at Ron* gotai; subsequent batches 'required more and more assembly, and so on, working up to the stage, still not | yet achieved but well within sight, j when 80 or 90 per cent of the con- | struction, apart from motors, instruments, and certain parts which, are more rapidly and more economically produced on presses and. jigs in specilising factories in Britain, will be undertaken at Rongotai. A far greater degree of local skill will go into plane manufacture at Rongotai than contributes, for instance, to the cars and motor veil-* icles assembled in the Hutt Valley.