MODERN AIR STATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 24 October 1939, Page 3

MODERN AIR STATION

COMFORTABLE QUARTERS AERODROME AT BLENHEIM RIVALRY AMONG MEN Though the construction work at Woodbourne Aerodrome, Blenheim, headquarters of the Wellington General Reconnaissance Squadron, is not yet finished, .the accommodation already in use indicates (hat ihe station will be one of the most modern in tiie Southern Hemisphere.

No detail has been neglected to make the men comfortable and all the quarters have been designed to obtain the maximum of sunshine. The sleeping accommodation, mess rooms, and recreation rooms are light and airy and are finished in a pleasant yellow. The extremely warm weather experienced in Blenheim during the summer necessitated some means of keeping the rooms cool, and to keep liie temperature normal, fans, which will blow either warm or cold air into the rooms. have been lilted throughout. The sleeping huts for the men are laid out in. fhe .shape of an H to allow the maximum of light to enter the rooms, and each of the four sections of the huts accommodates 20 men. Beds with wire mattresses are provided and a wardrobe and dressing table are allotted to every two men. There is provision for installing a wireless set and each of the huts at present in use has one. The rooms are kept extremely clean and tidy, there being keen rivalry between the flights. One flight, in an endeavour to outdo the others, has on its own initiative planted a border of flowers round its hut. Latest Cooking Appliances

Excellent provision has been made for cooking, and all the latest appliances are installed in the kitchen. Apart from electric, ranges and hot plates, there are «n electric mixing machine and an electric potato peeler. Great care lias been paid to the ventilation, and even at busy times the kitchen i> a pleasant place in which to work.

Provision has been made on the plans for a recreation hall, but the building has not yet been completed. I; will contain a billiards-room, picture theatre, canteen, reading-room and writing-room. In the meantime one of the messes is being used for recreation purposes. In addition to reading and writing material, it contains a tabic tennis table, radio, and piano. The bathroom accommodation is another feature of the station. An electric system provides a continuous supply of boiling water and hot or cold .showers arc available for the airmen. Each shower is in a separate cubicle. Novel Hangar Construction The huge hangars in which a novel system of construction has been employed cover approximately an acre of ground each. They were built with wooden trusses, which ore roinioiccd bv -Steel tie rods. By using split rings, a recent innovation in New Zealand, greater strength has been obtained, and at the same time a large saving in steel ellectcd. Fhe rings arc recessed 'nlo each of the pieces of timber to be joined and make a very firm and lasting union. The rings! weigh only a few ountfes, and if they were not available approximately 561 b of -steel would have to be used for each joint to obtain the same strength by the oid methocs A fire alarm system will be fitted throughout, and there will be a motor tender permanently on the station. Immediately the fire beli rings ■' pressure pump will come into operation to boost, the pressure of the water. The well which will supply ail the water for the station hasbeen sunk GOft., and even m the driest spells will give 100-000 gallons Hospital accommodation is qlso Pl Thc phots are doing a large amount of flying, carrying out .^° n,U ‘! K i sance work, cross-country flight.-. and advanced training. Squadion LcarU R. J. Sinclair is the officer command ing the station and the adiutan Flight Lieutenant J. R- S. Agai.