GUIDE TO FLYERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19982, 6 July 1939, Page 14

GUIDE TO FLYERS

MEMORIAL RADIO CENTRE * AID TO OCEAN HOPS MODERN EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS (Pol- Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Although (permanent buildings' lothousing the plant will not be avail able for some time, it is- expected that ’the Musick memorial radio centre at Buckland’s Beach, will be functioning next month. Designed primarily for the use of trans-ocean aircraft, the station will not only provide a modern radio service on short-wave and telephonic bands, tout it will also contain highly efficient direction-finding equipment. The construction of temporary facilities to house the plant has been undertaken- by the Public Works Department. Tlie receiver is at the southern end at the peninsula while two and a half miles away, similar wooden buildings are provided above the eastern beach for the transmitting apparatus. Apart .from one .technician at the transmitter station, the staff will be centred at the receiver and a cable has been laid .between the two units to enable .the .transmitting apparatus to be remotely controlled.

Point-to-Point Service The station will provide terminal facilities for air services. A point-to-point short-wave service with Sydney is'planned immediately, and ! later it is intended to make a similar arrangement with some Pacific station sueih as Suva.

Full radio equipment is carried by • the present-day flying-boats and the station will maintain a ’short-wave service with them over a normal range of 600 miles. However, if necessary, direct communication will be available over a much wider radius. There will also toe a radio telephone system between the aircraft and the station not only for the guidance of pilots 1 when near Auckland, tout algoi as an alternate to the Short-wave -service. As a result, a radio expeiit said, two strings would be provided to the bow, and another safeguard added.

Direction-Finding-The direction-finding apparatus on the customary medium wave band will be operated, tout, as an added precaution, the same service will toe furnished on short-wave. With similar equipment .at Awarua radio station near Bluff,‘it is hoped the cooperation of .the two centres will enable the .authorities to actually plot the position of trans-ocean flykigboats.

With the exception of the mediumwave transmitter, all -the plant is now in New Zealand ready for erection. Much detailed Work of a highly .technical nature is .involved in this task, and a specialist engineer of the radio division of the Post and Telegraph Department is to arrive from Wellington to assist the Auckland authorities.

Four steel towers will carry aerials attached to the transmitter, each of 75ft. Two of these have already been erected and steps are now being taken to raise the remaining masts, which will 'be 150 ft. in height. Comparatively smaller towers will be required for the receiving unit. .

The early introduction of the transTasman air service has expedited the proposals for the operation _of the station. The temporary facilities provided toy the Public Works Department will enable the plant to function efficiently .and, with plans now being prepared for permanent (buildings, it is expected the scheme envisaged as a memorial to Captain Mustek and ithe crew of the ill-fated Samoan Clipper, will be completed within less than .a year.