TWO NEW HANGARS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 93, 14 January 1935, Page 8

TWO NEW HANGARS

Aeroplane Accommodation at Wigram IMPROVED SERVICE BASE Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, January 12. It is expected that tenders will be called very soon for the erection of a second new hangar at AVigram aerodrome, at a cost ot approximately £15,000. The new hangar will be practically the same in design as the one which is now being erected at Wigram. Both hangars will be the largest and most up-to-date in New Zealand, and their completion will provide the aerodrome with the very latest in accommodation for the new aeroplanes which have been ordered from England by the Defence Department. With the exception that the annexe for workshop accommodation will be at the opposite end of the building, this second new hangar will be planned on the lines of the one at present being erected. The two hangars will house all the new machines at Wigram—a flight of Vickers Vildebeeste torpedo bombers being imported for the Royal New Zealand Air Force and a flight of Avro 626 aeroplanes ordered for training work by the New Zealand Territorial Air Force. Replacing Old Buildings. The buildings will replace the present accommodation for aeroplanes, it having been decided to pull down all the existing hangars with the exception of the two original Government hangars and the stores building. This means that all the hangars fating south-east will come down. The erection of the two hangars is part of a comprehensive scheme for improving AVigram as a service base, following the decision of the Government to build up the personnel and equipment of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Territorial Air Force. ’ It is planned to build the aerodrome upon proper service lines on a big scale, with a large staff living at the station. This will also mean the erection of houses and other accommodation for the increased' staff. Tenders will be called later for all this work. The two new hangars will be appointed with every modern device for expeditious working and in design will follow novel lines. Tbe most notable departure from' orthodox design will be the new type of roof. Instead of the usual curved roof, these hangars will have a series of gabled roofs giving a flat effect. New Type of Doors. Another radical departure will be the new type of doors. These will be canopy doors, operated electrically, with hinges at the top, so that -when opened up the doors will provide a wide verandah along the whole of the building. On each hangar there will be nine doors, each 20 feet long. -» Each hangar will have a frontal span of ISO feet, clear of supports, and a depth of 90 feet, and attached to each will be an annexe 90 feet by 20 feet for use as offices and storerooms. The construction of the hangars will provide work for many Christchurch workmen and business for many tradesmen in the city. The total cost for the two will be more than £30,000. Good progress is being made with the erection of the first of the new hangars, and it is already possible to obtain a good idea of what the completed building will look like. Forty men are now on the job, which is under tbe charge of a Christchurch contractor.