UNDERGROUND 'DROME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 152, 15 July 1937, Page 10

UNDERGROUND 'DROME

•Press Aaeociation.)

Proposed Plans for New Plymouth

CBv Teiaeraph-

NEW FI.YMOUTH, Last Night. Underground hangars, a wireless station and military barracks may be included in the future developments Of the New Plymouth airport at Bellblock, for though no official confirmation ean be obtained, it is understood plans to that end have already been prepared. Should it come to f ruition, the sc'heme would entail a permanent establishment of numerous pilots and members of the Ndw Zealand Defence Forces, as aeroplane squadrons, ineluding fighters and bombers, would have their headiquarters at New Plymouth. Lifts would ihave to be provided to bring the planes to the surface of the ground in a few seconds. Moreover, besides pilots and mechanics, anti-aircraffc units would be stationed there for the defence of the aerodrome. The scheme, if it were prosecuted, would be in accordanee with the present Goverxlment policy of developing the aviation afm of the defence of New Zealand. The plan for the training of civil reserve pilots is already weli under way and to the Western Federated Flying Club, of which New Plymouth Aero Club is a member, would fall the responsibility of training about a dozen pilots. In addition a new military aerodrome is to be established near Palmerston North in the xtear future.