THE AEROPLANE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1929, Page 2

THE AEROPLANE

WONDERFUL PROGRESS IN UNITED STATES. BLENHEIM, February 2. “ My message lor New Zealand is that a new era has dawned in matters of transport, ! that aviation has definitely passed the experimental stage and is rapidly becoming a serious competitor to other forms of transport over ong distances, and that every municipality in the Dominion must seriously consider the establishment of air ports or landing grounds.” In these words, Mr H. R. Dix, president of the Marlborough Aero Club, who has just returned from the International Aeronautical .Conference held in the United States, predicted that within a very few years the air mail would be a commonplace in New Zealand as it is in America and in Europe, and urged municipalities to prepare for the coming of the hew system. Mr Dix told a reporter that aviation in the United States had developed like a mushroom and had virtually sprung itself upon the community in the night. It. was developing so rapidly, he said, that the community could not keep pace with it. ' Landing fields which were regarded as adequate for all possible developments a couple of years ago have had to be scrapped or enlarged, and millions of dollars wore being spent in keeping pace on the ground with the phenomenal and never-ceasing growth of traffic in the air. Where a hangar and a landing field sufficed a little time ago, there had developed huge air ports replete with engineering shops, administrative buildings and range after range of hangars, the fields all elaborately lit for night flying and the route from one city to another pricked out with great beacon towers. “ Aviation,” said Mr Dix, “is developing principally on the commercial side with mail service ’planes equipped with passenger accommodation. On one of our flights between Salt Lake City and Cheyenne (Wyoming), a distance of about 270 miles, the ’plane in which we travelled carried a pay load of 20001bs of mail matter, while the other machine, in which the Australian delegates were accommodated, carried 18001bs of mail. These were payable loads, and the tendency naturally is to develop the profitable side of the business. There are landing fields or air ports at almost every town on the route right across the States, while emergency grounds are almost everywhere.” Mr Dix, on the trip between Salt Lake City and Cheyenne, in which the route lies over the American Rockies, had an experience of night flying which demonstrated the efficiency with which the Americans have tackled the problem of lighting the air routes. The mountain tops are ornamented with great light towers, some carrying revolving lights and some flashing lights, and so placed that the aviator has no

difficulty in finding his way from one beacon to another until lie reaches his destination at the brilliantly lit air port. Here, in addition to the general lighting, there arc special searchlights which are directed into the wind and the airman lias simply to land down the beam of light, the ’plane itself being always in the shadow. Air Dix was also impressed with the amount of money which the United States Government is spending in aerial research work. I) hat might ho termed the headquarters of this department is located at Dayton (Ohio). The city of Dayton had presented the Government with over 2000 acres of land for the establishment of laboratories, testing grounds and air ports, and here at the Wright airport almost every machine made was under observation and under test. Ihe I‘oul allmetal tri-motcq'ed machine, similar to that being used hv Commander Byrd in the Antarctic, was an outstanding machine and was becoming very popular. Coming hack to New Zealand conditions Mr Dix said he considered that an air mail service could he developed in this country with advantage to all. There was no doubt that the great length and narrowness of the Dominion made it peculiarly suitable for such a service, all the principal towns being laid out along the one route, and to his mind it was only a matter of selecting the best type of machine for the purpose. Possibly at first a service from one end of the Dominion to the other on alternate days would be sufficient. There was little doubt that the combination of air riiail and passengers would afford a payable load. With a smile Air Dix said that the aeroplane was even increasing the apparently insuperable difficulties of those responsible for the attempt to enforce Prohibition, for ’planes were being used wholesale for smuggling. He remarked that the legislature of the United States had just voted 40,000,000 dollars for the enforcement of Prohibition, but judging by what he had seen they would need to voto another forty millions and then somo more. AL- Dix concluded with an appreciative reference to the splendid hospitality extended to the delegates by the American people in all parts of the States. “Nothing was too good for ns,” he said, “ and the way in which we were entertained was remarkable.”