Special Aeroplanes For Top-Dressing May Be Constructed

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 55, 26 October 1949, Page 6

Special Aeroplanes For Top-Dressing May Be Constructed

Britain is now becoming very interested in the recent development of large scale aerial top-dressing, which is now being introduced to the Bay of Plenty. The Bristol Aeroplane Company has a representative in this country and is keenly observing the New Zealand hopes of increased productivity of the hill lands. Britain is very much interested in the proposal, and the Bristol Company particularly so because it was believed that the Bristol freighter was well suited for the work of distributing fertiliser in the large quantities required for continued high production. Little Detailed Information Britain, however, at the moment has little detailed information as to the requirements of New Zealand. Nevertheless, an endeavour is being made to outline plans for the adaptation of freighter aircraft and for the rapid loading of such craft. Whether the aircraft industry can consider designing and building machines specifically for the one purpose of aerial topdresing, and thus for highest possible efficiency in that work, will depend upon whether the conditions which led to New Zealand’s decision to embark upon large-scale work are common to other countries or are peculiar to this Dominion. It will not be economically practicable to build special aircraft for this work for New Zealand alone.