MORE PRACTICE IN FLYING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20096, 27 November 1930, Page 10

MORE PRACTICE IN FLYING.

NEW ZEALAND PILOTS' NEED. OBJECTS OF ORGANISED FLIGHTS. .More frequent practice in flying than pilots of the New Zealand Air Force have at tho present time is the main object of the organised flights which are being undertaken in various parts of tho Dominion. S. Grant Dalton, Director of Air Services, told a reporter of Thb Press yesternay. The recent flight of a squadron of five aeroplanes from Auckland to New Plymouth, which will be continued by way of Hastings and the East Coast, is tho first of several which may be undertaken in the near future, and each of the four main centres in turn will probably arrange similar trips before Christmas.

At present, Wing-Commander Grant Dalton said, insufficient flying was available for aviators, and the institution of squadron flying would keep them in practice for the greater part of the year. Kach of the territorial branches would be responsible for arranging its own trips, and it was probable that a flight similar to that in Auckland would be undertaken ffom the "Wigram Aerodrome before Christmas. Tho flights were to be of fairly short duration, visits being paid to districts surrounding eaeh centre.

New Servico Machine. Asked about the cabled news of this week that Great Britain had placed an order for 200 Hawker Fury aeroplanes, which were described as the answer to the Hawker Hart bombers, Wing-Com-mander Grant Dalton said that they were particularly good machines, very fast, and capable of intercepting bombing machines before they reached their objectives. They were not the type wanted in New Zealand, however, as it was unlikely that there was a danger of similar raiding to which Britain might be subjected. Bombing machines were now so fast that they were vory difficult to overtake, and the new machines were capable of such high speeds that they would be able to intercept enemy raiders fnr oft' from their objectives. Tlie Autogyro. The first autogyro to be sent to Australia or New Zealand, which was now on the way to Christchureh, would be assembled at the Wigram Aerodrome and tested by Squadron-Leader J. L. I'indlay on its arrival, said the i)irector. It was, of course, not the concern of the New Zealand Air Service, but was being brought out privately, and after the tests would go to its owners. The advantage of these machines, h 6 said, was that they could take off and land in comparatively small areas, and the bringing of one to New Zealand was a distinct advance in aviation here. It is understood that the autogyro v.'ill be in use in all parts of the Dominion.