THE AIR AGE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1929, Page 2

THE AIR AGE

►STRIDES IE RECENT YEARS. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, March 2. “The Great Air Age” is given in a (serial, “A..U.C.” just issued. It seventy-three thousand miles of organised airways in the world, serving four hundred cities and towns in 1929. There were only three thousand miles in 1924. This had grown 21,000 miles thereafter yearly, and then iollows 51,000, 55,000, and 73,000 miles in 1928. When the first daily service from London to Paris started, nine and a-half years ago, a 300 horse power aeroplane carried two passengers and a pilot. To-day three-motored aeroplanes, developing more than one thou, sand horse power, carried eighteen passengers anil a crew of three. In 1919 twenty passengers crossed the Channel by air weekly. To-day the average is two thousand weekly in and out of London. An air ticket can now be purchased at Croydon for Persia, Northern Africa, and Moscow. Ihe latter is now only twenty-nine hours from London. THE YOUNG IDEA. ENGLISH TUITION SCHEME. LONDON, March 2. Ten thousand children will fly with Sir Alan Cobliam during the summer, through., the generosity of an anonymous donor. It is provided that lie shall carry out the flights in a big air liner called the Spirit of Adventure. There will be no stunting. .Children will be over 13 years of age, and will be chosen by the authorities of their schools, and will be carried with then parents’ consent. The idea is to stimulate in boys and girls an ambition to fly, and to teach them air-mindedness. Petrol Combine’s Risk. - ---===•