AVIATION IN AUSTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1929, Page 6

AVIATION IN AUSTRALIA

NATIONAL AIRWAYS,

K LNGSFORD-SM ITH’S PLANS

AUCKLAND, November 4

The leader of the Pacific, Tasman, and other notable flights, SquadronLeader C. Kingsford-Smith, arrived yesterday iby the Aorangi from Vancouver, and will continue his voyage to Australia to-morrow.

“ From what I haveseen of the world’s airways, I am satisfied Australia is the best flying country in the world, and I am pleased New Zealand has made such progress since I was here last year,” he said. It was gratifying if the flights of the Southern Cross had in any measure stimulated aviation iii New Zealand. The idea off completing the world .circuit by a trails-Atlantic flight in 1930 appealed to him. “1 would like to do it because it is a sort of missing link in the chain we have made,” he said. “-If we undertake it, I hope the crew will comprise the old party—Ulm, Litchfield, and M’Williams.” The Southern Cross has been extensively' overhauled in Holland by the Fokker experts, and . a month avo Squadron-Leader Kingsford-Smith passed through California - and discussed the financing, of van Atlantic “hop.’ H,is immediate concern is, however, the establishing of regular air lines, linking Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Squadron-Leader Kingsford - Smith and Fight-Lieutenant Ulm have organised an Australian national airways scheme in which they have invested £50,000 in four three-engined machines. “ Three of these monoplanes have been delivered, and we hope to start the service within a few weeks,” he stated. A daily service would be run between Sydney and Brisbane, and early next year night flying would commence, and Melbourne would be catered for. Tlie machines which have been selected for the' new line are Avro tens, British-built monoplanes produced under Fokker license. They are fitted with three Armstrong-Siddeley 230 h.p. LYNX engines and their comfortable cabins will accommodate from ten to fourteen passengers, according to the distance between refuelling, stations.

“I am naturally an. adherent of multi-engine design's, and tri-motored machines are. needed to ensure public confidence in the safety of the airways and in their ability to keep to theii schedules,” isaid , Squadron-Leader Kingsford-Smith.- ' “ I consider in the light of my experience with the Southern Cross, that regular flving between Australia and New Zealand cannot be an immediate thing. Eventually it must come, but I think it will be effected-in giant flyingboats, similar to the Dornier twelveengined machine recently tested on the Continent.

“ I do not believe in the subsidy system generally, but it may be a wise thing to start commercial flying in New Zealand,” said Squadron-Leader Kings-ford-Smith. “As a rule, subsidies only stifle enterprise, although I believe the Imperial Airways should ultimately become quite profitable. A mail surcharge is all we are relying on in Australia, and an air mail becomes a considerable thing when its reliability and punctuality .are demonstrated. “AVe are fortunate in Australia with our extraordinary visibility and good weather average. In England there is little internal commercial flying. The trains are so fast that air travel would show little advantage. In Australia we have great scope, and if New Zealand is ready for an airway nothing can equal the three-engined monoplane where paying loads are offering,”

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL AIRWAYS THREE MONOPLANES ARRIVE. (Received this dav at 8.30. a.m.) SYDNEY, November 6. Three giant Fokker monoplanes for the Australian National Airways Ltd. ordered by Kingsford Smith and Uhn, have, arrived. They are almost identical with the Southern Gross.