BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

Evening Star, Issue 21747, 15 June 1934, Page 2

BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

AERODROME NEWS. Depite the wintry conditions of the past week, flying has been kept up remarkably well. The Middlemarch pupils have been putting a lot of time in the air and are getting very near the solo stage. Two of them were noticed on Sunday being instructed in spinning and recovery. The instructor had a busy day on Sunday, and spent live hours in the air. In the morning two machines led by Plight-lieutenant Olson, visited Balclutha for training, and returned to Taieri at noon. During the afternoon the cabin plane was out with passengers. The air was very clear, and as the hills had a fair sprinkling of snow, passengers got a wonderful view of the country. Pilots M. Greenslade and I. Styche did their navigation tests, but, as there are still some more pilots to complete their training, the results will not be available this w-cek. Pilot V. Scale took ZK-ABF to Christchurch on Sunday and reported a very pleasant trip, taking 2hrs 20min. lie left oil the return journey on Monday, and made good time to Oamaru, where he ran into a heavy southerly wind. He flew on to Cherry Farm (Waikouaiti), where lie landed to refuel before crossing the Silver Peaks. He arrived at Taieri at noon, having taken 3ihrs from Christchurch. Pilot' I. Curtis, of the Southland Aero Club, flew up on Sunday in ZK-ACP. After reporting at Taieri, he took off again for a flight over Dunedin and environments. He left for Invercargill pa Tuesday. It is fifteen years since John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown made the first non-stop 4 flight across the Atlantic. The flight was made on _ June 14, 1919 in a Vickers-Vimy biplane powered by two Rolls-Royce engines, and took 15i hours. Both airmen were knighted for this achievement. A Spartan biplane ZK-ABN, piloted by Keith Johnson, arrived on Wednesday from Timaru and returned later in the afternoon.

An inter-elub competition day will be hold at North Taieri to-morrow. Pilots and planes will be coming from Inv.ercargilb to compete with local flijots. It is said that Invercargill ms some pilots who are deadly both at bombing at and landing in the circle. A social will be held in the clubroom in the evening. There will be no dual instruction tomorrow until the inter-club competitions are over. This only applies to to-morrow.

The Otago Aero Club’s annual ball will be held at the Tudor Hall, Savoy, oil Wednesday, June 20. Tickets and reservations for tables can be obtained through the secretary (Mr G. S. Kirby). VULTURE AND AEROPLANE. A young Frenchman, M. Chartqire, flying by easy stages from Baris, narrowly escaped death thirty miles from Calcutta when a vulture new into and damaged the wings of his aeroplane. He was forced to land, and at the moment of alighting the machine burst into flames, but M; Chartolre was just able to climb out unhurt. This is the sixth recorded occasion when aeroplanes flying over India have collided with vultures. A iRSHIP FOR SALE. Among the small advertisements announcing sales of pets and secondhand automobiles in a London journal recently appeared a few lines nonchalantly announcing “ Airship for sale.” Many persons thought it was a joke. But it was not. The advertiser declared it to be the only one of its kind in the world—a miniature Graf Zeppelin. The owner described it as made of aluminium, fifty yards long, and. with it speed of eighty kilometres an hour. He declared it was suitable for advertising and for “ taking business acquaintances up in the air during a deal.” FOG LANDINGS IN SAFETY. A revolutionary method of enabling aeroplanes to alight in thick fog is now being tested by Royal Air Force pilots at the Central Flying School , near Stamford (Lines.), it consists essentially in the use , of two devices. The first is a “sign post” balloon which is flown above the fog to indicate the position of the aerodrome. 'The second is a weight suspended about 15ft below the airplane, which, when it touches ground, _ causes a red lamp to light in _ the pilot’s cockpit. When using this new method of alighting in thick fog the pilot is guided to the aerodrome by directional wireless, or radio beam, until he picks up the “ sign post ” balloon. This carries, in large letters, the direction and angle of the glide that will bring him down to the landing area. AIR RACE HAZARDS. Will pilots in the Melbourne Centenary race “probably have to run as great risks as those involved in an Atlantic flight,” as the ‘ Manchester Guardian ’ anticipates? The route between cheeking points has more hazards than the trickiest golf cdiirso imaginable. Once Europe has been passed the course lies across the Black Sea and the sparsely-settled regions of Asiatic Turkey, then out into the desert-for a night lauding at Bagdad. Out again across the rugged country beyond Persia and the north-west frontier of India, India behind, there is a sea crossing of nearly 4,000 miles, relieved only by the tongue of the Malay Peninsula, with the checking point at Singapore, the fringe of Borneo, and Dutch East Indies to Bar win. This is as the crow flies. The airmen and airwomen who have flown already from England to Australia have for the most part followed a safer ant} somewhat longer course, hugging the ebast and following island chains. Some competitors in the race may elect to do the same; but most will be inclined to take the shortest route—and the risk—in their effort to win. On the other hand, the precautions arranged are as perfect as human foresight can make them, and the skill of the competitors outstanding. Ijb is to be hoped the ledger is balanced on the right side. A trail of wrecked and burned machines and the loss of their pilots Would be too great a price to pay for even the greatest air rftce in history. FLYING COMFORT’. Like the Puss Moth, the Leopard Moth accommodates pilot and two passengers in an enclosed cabin. The. passengers sit side by side on a wide and deep seat behind the pilot. Behind the head rest of the back seat is a compartment for the carriage of up to

]oolb weight of luggage. At need the cabin can be warmed by a device which conducts hot air from a muffler fitted round that part of the engine exhaust that is inside the engine cowding. Adjustable ventilators are fitted. There is plenty of space, the safetyglass windows are large, additional light percolates through- the translucent roof, and conversation is possible without raising the voice. Structurally the Leopard Moth consists entirely of wood, except for the steel tubes of the engine-bearer section. The De Haviland experts declare that their experience goes to show that the form of plywood boxtype fuselage—to take ono major component—adopted in the Leopard Moth is lighter, more robust, easier to inspect, and easier to repair than a metal tube structure, and is less liable to strain due to inconsiderate handling and taxying on the ground. Wheel and “ air ” brakes are fitted. The air brakes are used to steepen the angle of descent by adding to the head resistance of the machine, thus facilitating descents in small fields and other restricted areas. In the Leopard Moth the air-braking effect is got by movement of a lever in the cabin which rotates the streamline fairing of the undercarriage struts through a right angle, and presents the greatest width to the path of flight.