NEW ZEALAND AND AVIATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 289, 31 August 1920, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AND AVIATION

Sir,—l had the pleasure of looping tho loop and doing n spiral in Walsh Bros.* aeroplane at the Pctono racecourse today. Wo went up in rain and strong wind about one o'clock. The strapping In with a patent belt makes one feel fairly secure, but by pushing one's elbows out- one could not very well fall out. Captain Hussoll jumped the ditch, and tho impetus on going over the bank on the near sido of the ditch gave it a lift up like a man doing a take-off on a pile of snow on skis. It was a lovely soothing sensation, and tho pooplo and buildings soon, became dots, and then lost to sight, except tho racecourse ring, which was a very good land mark. Wo turned when nearlng Somes Island, and were probably about 2000 ft. up. Thn pilot turned to me, to see how I was getting on, and I made signs that I wanted him to loop the loop, and after he re-* peated the sign, to make sure that I was anxious to loop the loop, up went the machine, and owing to the speed of tho loop and the clouds and earth turning round, there was no distinct feeling. Ten years ago, wheu I left England, tho aeroplane was just flying over- Crystal Palace, and I havo never touched an aeroplane nor been close to one until today. Tho result of my experience is that it surprises me how backward New Zealand is in tho air. The Government should set up n special Act of Parliament, vote a very substantial sum of money, and get on with the aeroplane business as quickly as possible. This country requires quicker postal transit because tho railway travel is so very slow and out-of-date. It would bring the country up to date, and enable us to defend ourselves against any enemy wno may conic over_ the sen. if we had 5000 aeroplanes stationed at the vantage points in New Zealand. We have no hope of keeping abreast of 40,000-ton battleships, but wo can manage to equip ourselves with more aeropianes than It would 1m possible to bring here. To my way of thinking, tho aeroplane will enable a small nation isolated, unable to equip a fleet of up-to-date battleships, fully to equip and defend herself against any enemy, however formidable it might be, simply because our airmen could 6iuash their machines as thev wero beins landed. New Zealand, wake up. Don't let the labour troubles so occupy this fair country that the enemy might find us easy prey. Well armed means peace; and can wo pull up for lost tlmo if we don't get on with this aeroplane business quickly and thoroughly? It will take a long timo to train men if wo lost our present airmen. It seems a shame that we havo so many smart flying men and they are falling back into trade unnoticed by the Minister of Defence.

The Walsh Bros, are the first men to come to Wellington, and they could bo engaged to fix up a mail service from Wellington to Auckland. We want it badly, and the Government should subsidise these plucky men, f=o that New Zealand will not be found wanting in the most useful service ever invented by man—the flying service—l am, eta., S. TURNER. P.S.—Flying is tame compared with climbing a. big mountain alone.