AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1930, Page 5

AVIATION

AIRMAN MISSING

IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

(Australian Press Association.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 7. Three .'Air Force aeroplanes are setting out to search in Central Australia for tlio missing aviator, E. li. Coote, who is a member of a gold expedition syndicate. Nothing has been heard of his whereabouts for a week. '••‘Coote had a good supply of water and food. GARDEN AT SYDNEY. A BORN AVIATOR. SYDNEY, Nov. 7. The aviator Garden arrived at Sydney at 2.56 p.in. to-day. He received an enthusiastic welcome from Aero Club officials and a couple of hundred people at Mascot. He was chaired to the Club House, where he was heartily congratulated. Garden told the interviewers that he averaged eighty miles an hour from England. His solo flying experience before the trip was only twenty hours, and his navigation instruction consisted of two weeks’ train ng. After hearing his story, the local airmen readily conceded that lie is a born aviator, and that he ranks with Bert Hinkler. AUSTRALIANS’ HOSPITALITY. SYDNEY, Nov. 7. Among Garden’s w'elcomers at Mascot were representatives of the New Zealand Association and the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, but the first lady to shake hands with the gallant and bronzed young airman was Miss Whyte, a friend from Auckland. An illuminated address was presented to Garden by the Mascot civic authorities, who described him as a dark horse. Captain Hughes, President of the Club, congratulated Garden on the completion of his hazardous and remarkable flight, which was devoid entirely of ostentation Garden’s little blue aeroplane is named the “Kia Ora.” He said that he was grateful for the kindness and hospitality shown him since his return to Australia. The people at Broken Hill had handed him a very acceptable cheque.

A group of leading Sydney airmen and also Mr Schmitt (the New Zealand Commissioner), Mr A. Crockett, and Mr W. Beattie (representing the New Zealand Association and the Returned Soldiers) attended a dinner in honour of Garden at the City Hotel to-night.

N.Z. AIR MAIL TENDERS

v WELLINGTON, Nov. 6

Following a decision by Cabinet tenders are to be called, to-morrow, by the Government for the carriage of mail by air between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, It is hoped that the air mail services will he in operation before next Enster. The tenders close on Dec. 6th.

BRITISH AIRSHIPS

THEIR FUTURE UNCERTAIN

LONDON, Nov. 6

No decision as to the use of the RIOO will be reached until the report of the inquiry now investigating the loss of 31101 has been received and considered in all its bearings on-future airship policy, said Mr T. Montague (Under Secretary for the Air Ministry), in the House of Commons, The ccst of her upkeep in flying condition, including the pay, personnel and overhead charges, was about £6OO a week. RIOO was at present being deflated, ami a full inspection of her hull was proceeding. He also informed questioners that the cost of the airships construcion since the Armistice was: R 33 £350,600; R 36, £350,000; RBO, £275,000; R3B, £500,000; R 37 (not completed), £325,000i; R.ICO ((contract price), £350,000; R-101, including the insertion of an additional bay and other alterations) £640,000. Two German airships were taken over at the Armistice They were dismantled, being unsuitable for the Air Ministry’s programme. The total expenditure on these two was about £IOO,OOO. ■