AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 10 October 1931, Page 8

AVIATION

AtR-LINE PILOTS. 6.000,000 MILES OF FLIGHT. LONDON, September 4. Air-line pilots constitute a body ol men who, though they are engaged in daily work that is far more obviously picturesque, say, than accountancy or pile-driving, stem seldom to get into the limelight. The work of the miltary or naval pilot still wears a halo of romance, but the men who are responsible for safe conduct of the big machines plying regularly between the great cities remain comparatively unknown, and their achievements are rarely chronicled. '' This seeming neglect is- a pity, not because the pilots themselves crave attention, but because their magnificent records of service supply some ol the best possible proof of the inherent safety of aviation. Flying in all sorts of conditions to time-table resembles very little the more or less desultory fine weather flying of the typical owiarpiilots. -It imposes at once a greater strain and test on the individual.

Those records, some of them compiled over a period of twelve years or more, are amazing indeed. Nine pilots of Imperial Airways have spent between them no fewer than 59,900 hours, equal to 2496 days and nights, or six years ten mouths, at the controls. In that time they dnave travelled an aggregate of .nearly 6,000,000 miles, equivalent to 25 journeys to the moon or 240 flights round the world at the Equator. The fact that each of these men.is 'still plying his profession makes any insistence on the degree of safely revealed by the figures quite superIfluous. Here are the details : Pilot', Hours. Olley ' 9„400 Jones 7,500 Wilcocksoii 6,500 Youell 6,500 Robinson 6,500 Rogers 6,200 Waiters 6,000 Dismore 5,800 • i Horsey 5,500 Total 59,900 j Average 6,655 J These statistics arc worth mentioning in any argument over the safety, or the perils, of aviation. GREATEST AIR MEET. American airmen who attended the 'National Air Races at Chicago last year, held the unanimous opinion that i the finest displays of aerobatic flying during the meeting were givn lay Flight-Lieutenant R. L. R. Atcherlev, member of the British 1929 Schneider ! team, and holder of the world's speed j record over 100 kilometres, in hr. j Blackburn Lincock single-seater biplane. His handling of the craft, showing in evel'y" evolution the skill amounting to inspiration, which is the hallmark of every really great aeroplane pilot, roused the crowds as well - as the experts to enthusiasm, and it is not surprising that the organisers, of this year’s “National Air Races meeting, scheduled to begin at GVeveland, should again have desired h's presence. He is- at present stationed with a day >bomber squadron at Am-J mail, Palestine, but fortunately he was due for leave,-and " Lieutenant Alford Williams, the American pilot sent over to Europe to arrange foreign participation at Cleveland, was able to get his consent by cable. Negotiations for a suitable aircraft ended 6 in Atcherley deciding to take with him the same Lincock machine that served him so we If in 1929. A small biplane powered with a radial air-cooled ■ -Lynx motor of around 220 h.p., it is exceptionally handy in the air, and is sufficiently fast, the top speed being -nearly 160 m-p.h. lor aerobatics of the kind usually coming only, within the capabilities of service single-seater fighters of double the power- Atcherley’s craft is constructed main.vy of wood on the system first adopted;. but improved models of the Lincock are built entirely of metal, with the exceptiori of "he 1 fabric coverings to the fuselage, wings, and tail unit. ! ■' A ROYAL WEDDING PRESENT. For some time past the Archduke Anton, of Hapsblir'g, whose home is in Spain, has been a well-knOwii personality at British aerodromes; and he learned to fly in this country. Here, too, he bought his machine. Princess lleana, of Rumania, is also enthusiastic about air travel. The wedding present given them by King Carol of is a beautifully finished Puss Aloth light cabin monoplane. In design and construction, the machine is similar to the -blue and scarlet craft of the same type owned by the Prince ol AY ales. It has a range of about 600 miles at an easy cruising speed of 105 to 110 m.p.h., and many detail refinem nts making for ease ol control and comfort of the pilot 'and the one or two passengers. The external finish, however, is unusually .elaborate, and equal in appearance to the most luxurious motor-cars. Fuselage and undercar-, i-iage are cream, and the " i 'gs aluminium slvev, with the registration markings picked out in b.’ack on the fuselage sides, and the upper surface of the monoplane wings. The Archduke and his bride have taken possession of their-new aeroplane, ard intend to fly either to Spain or to (Bavaria for a holiday. Later they hope to make extended tours in Europe and even further afield. Xav’gatior l'vh'" are included in-the. equipment for night living. .