Aviation Notes

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 227, 7 September 1933, Page 9

Aviation Notes

FLBe & EaCa Club Activi. ies

Herald ”* w Tribune ” Scholarship

Month's Flying. The H.B. and E.C. Club’s instructor’s report for the month of C—«cst is just to hand. It gives 83 hours as the totul Hying for the month. This is considerably below the total for August last year, when 112 hours were done. However, at that time the club was conducting tuition at Gisborne, although this is offset to some extent by the present flying at Napier. Sister clubs in the Dominion are all undergoing the same hardship in maintaining flying hours, and the local club has little to be ashamed of. The report also shows that the month was, on the whole, fairly suitable for flying from the weather aspect. Cross-Country Flights. Club machines have been fairly busy making taxi trips during the past week. No less than six trips to Gisborne were made, and one to Rotorua and return. The wrestlers, Patterson, Pereira anil Oswald, were among the air travellers. AH three arc emphatic about the advantages of air travel to them in their present round of engagements. An important point with them is the fact that they are able to arrive u, distant towns iii a thoroughly fit state after a short flight as compared to the tired and fatigued conditon resulting from hours of road or rail travel. This fact weighs very heavily with them.

On Saturday morning the Desoutter proved her reliability. On this day she made no less than five trips between Hastings and Gisborne between 6.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. The aerodrome staff are quite convinced that should she be left with her engine running unattended she would automatically tafle off and head for Gisborne! Compass Swinging. Two compasses recently ordered from Australia are now to hand, and FlightLieutenant Gerrand intends to instal these and. swing them within the next few days. Those members desirous of obtaining practical tuition in compass swinging, therefore, should communicate with him. “B’’ License Examination. Pilot H. O .Curlett sits for his examination in the theoretical subjects for his commercial pilot’s ticket next Wednesday and Thursday. He carries the best wishes of his fellow members, for few pilots in the chib are deserving of this advancement from the point of view of steadiness, reliability and all-round knowledge in the practical side. Should he be successful he will be the first club member th pass this exam. So “All the best!” Hughie. Aero Bail, Members are reminded that their annual aero ball takes place this month, on Friday, September 29. The ladies’ committee will welcome suggestions and offers of help to make this function the popular success it has been in the past. On the Taihape Track. To-day the instructor flies a passenger to To Mahunga, a station on the road to Taihape. This is the second trip within a couple of weeks. This road has become almost impassable after recent rains and the air offers the quickest and best means of getting there. ZK—ABB will go, returning afterwards to 'Napier, when the usual day’s instruction will be given. Scholarship, The fourteen finalists of the “Herald" - “Tribune" Aviation Scholarship are all advised that they must arrange to take their second free lesson before September 17. The instructor desires to finalise the competition as soon as possible and commence with the training of the winner. Those who have not yet advised the secretary when the second lesson is to he taken should do so immediately. Six have already been given this further lesson, and in all a high standard of ability has been maintained. Napier Activity. Instruction is still continued at Napier, where the early enthusiasm has been maintained. Jack Tattersall returned the other day looking very bronzed after a fortnight’s holiday on the skis at Tongariro, The ski work does not seem to have spoilt his flying to any degree, and both he and P. Mayo should go solo very soon.

Au Revoir. The club is sorry indeed to have to wish Ken Brownjohn, of the Wellington Club, au revoir. Business unfortunately calls him back. During the three months he was here he proved a very enthusiastic member. Each day the machine was at Napier he was certain to be present waiting to tear holes in the air. Visitors. During the week the Waco called in on her way to Gisborne. It was in the capable hands of Flight-Lieutenant G. Bolt. Mr C. Weinstein, active committeeman from the club, was among the passengers. A short stay to say “How do” was also made on the return trip a dav or so afterwards. Pilot Z. Mangham and Mr Robinson also popped m with the monocoupe. Rumour has it that Mr Robinson is rapidly finalising his arrangements for the inauguration of the NapierGisborne service and that he intends to open it with the Wellington Club’s Waco. The Blackburn Meteor is to bo purchased later. Britain’s Air Prestige. In the Ilolk-e of Lords recently Lord Gorell asked whether an attempt would be made by the Royal Air Force to regain the speed record in the air now held by Italy. He said there were several aspects of this question apart from the military aspect. The science of the air was exircmely young, and it was too soon for Great Britain to say that they had done all they could by the amazing speed record gained in 1931 Though Great Britain might well say I hat. it could not always expect

to be first in all respects it had never been content in its history to sit back and allow some other country to hold ■■first place. ..’ie Marquess of Londonderry, Secretary for Air, said that an attempt on the speed record at the present time would involve an expenditure of at least £200,000. On the technical side, while valuable lessons were learnt in 1931, it was doubtful whether a further attempt at this time would produce information of comparable value. No doubt the achievement of such a record redounded to the prestige of the R.A.F. and the standing of the British aircraft industry, but it was easy, perhaps, to exaggerate this value. There remained the factor of danger to life and limb, which tended to increase as the speed aimed at rose. Four pilots of the R.A.F. had up to the present lost their lives in practice for the Schneider Trophy or in attempts on world records, while the R.A.F. of Italy had lost as many in two years in surpassing the record of 1931. It was a question of weighing tho cost against the advantage to be gamed. The policy on which the Government had decided was that the R.A.F. should not be diverted from its normal duties to make attempts on world records as such when there was no genuine Service purpose to be served thereby. In the present stage of development, this principle would rule out an attempt on the world’s speed record. If, however, in tho normal course of technical development it appeared that we could achieve still better results than those already obtained, whether as regarded speed, height, or long distance, without an undue diversion of Service personnel from their proper function and without subjecting them to other than normal Service risks, then tho making of an attempt to set up a fresh record might well be justified. Subsidised Aero Club. The application of the Auckland Aero Club to tho Minister of Defence, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, for allocation of an extra training 'plane, in order to be better equipped lor the development of aviation throughout the whola province, has met with a refusal, although the proposal was sympathetically considered by the Minister. The Minister stated that the Government was opposed to any increase in the present number of subsidised aero clubs in the North Island, it being considered that the interests of aviation would be better served by the operations of a larger club than by the efforts of a number of small clubs to serve their own centres. The arguments advanced, by the committee of the Auckland Club, coupled with local enthusiasm for flying in other centres in the province,, made a strong claim for prior consideration when further aircraft were loaned to the subsidised aero clubs. In view of this reply from the Minister and taking into consideration the present urgent need for additional aircraft by tho club, the only alternative remaining is for the club to make its own arrangements if it is considered that the purchase of a machine is justifiable. The unfavourable exchange operating at the present time makes the importation of aeroplanes from overseas a costly business. Aero Club Golf Links. Much enthusiasm has been displayed by members of the Auckland Aero Club in (ho latest recreation of golf recently adopted by the committee. Tho golf course is in the first stages of formation, and from indications it appears that this side line will be a popular feature. Mr E. J. Moss, professional at the Auckland Golf Club, has already expressed the opinion that the ground skirting the whole aerodrome can be made into a very playable course. The relief workers employed at Mangers are getting the course into shape, and there is no doubt that within a month it will be open for play. In connection with the rules of play, it is generally understood that from the very situation of the golf course, flying takes precedence over that sport. For instance, if a machine is taxying out with the intention of taking off for a flight, and a group of golfers happens to be playing in the vicinity, they will be expected to “give way” until the 'plane has flown off. In other respects, the rules will be precisely the same as observed on recognised courses. From tho amount of playing that has already been done by enthusiasts, it will probably be no uncommon sight at the height of the season to see a steady stream of golfers wending its way round the outskirts of the aerodrome while machines are taking off and landing in the centre. Presumably the golfers will soon become accustomed to the distraction of having aeroplanes zooming all round them. The estuary of the Manukau Harbour, which bounds the aerodrome on two sides, will most likely take its toll of the supply of golf balls.

-Flying Boats’ Attributes. ■’.;■ Long distance cruises by British flying boats over most of the seven seas have proved sufficiently in the past eight years their seaworthiness and endurance. They have ridden out at anchor gales of more than 60 miles an hour, and have taken off and landed safely in heavy seas. The ample accommodation on board means comfort for the crew, with consequential etfiZcy and good health. Still larger boats may be added to the service fleet within the next few years. A Short six-engined biplane, nearly twice the size of the “Iris” craft is shortly to renew service trials, and she by no means represents the limit of attainable and practical magnitude Many strategists believe that the flying boat is destined largely to supplant tho surface warship in patrol and reconnaisance of the Empire routes. \ flying boat can sweep m a few hours •in area of water which would occupy the fastest light cruiser several days Extension of the British flying boat fleet would seem a. reasonable and economical development in imperial de-