AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1932, Page 2

AVIATION

MRS BRUCE'S ATTEMPT.

TO BEAT ENDURANCE RECORD

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph .—Copy right.)

LONDON, January 9,

Mrs Victor Bruce, accompanied by her husband, will shortly attempt a full month's flight over London without alighting. The attempt is to be made in the hope of beating the American endurance record of 27 days. Mr and (Mrs Bruce should cover 70,000 miles. Twice every clay a re-fuelling aeroplane will be sent up, which will provide Mr and Mrs Bruce with petrol, oil, food and water by means of pipes and ropes. '. , , Mrs Bruce will fly a Monospan light machine, built on the simplest lines, with two 75 horse-power Popjoy engines, similar to the engine used y Butler on his record-breaking Australian flight. KINGSFORD SMITH'S PROGRESS. MARSEILLES, January -8. Kingsford Smith left at 10.15 a.m. and arrived at Rome at 2,55 p.T- with the Australian mails . Smith’s time for flying from Marseilles to Rome wa s 220 minutes, which is claimed to be a record. ATHENS, January 9. Air Commodore Kingsford Smith left Rome to-day at 7.20 a.m. He arrived here at 3.30 p.m, Be departs at 4 a,m. to-morrow, WILKINS’ NEW PLANE. NEW YORK, January 9, A Seattle message states that Sir Hubert Wilkins is visiting there to consult aeroplane officials and engineers regarding plans for a new typo of aeroplane to be used on another exploration trip. He said that plans tor a new submarine, drawn under hi* direction, would 'be announced. e contemplated a trip in March, a er his return from Europe. SOUND BASIS IN N.Z. WING COMMANDER DALTON’S OPINION. WELLINGTON, January o.

“Although the present economic crisis is bound to effect aviation developments in New Zealand, it is my conviction that gy i a tion ie on a sound footing,” declared >Viog Commander S. .Grant Dalton, ex-Direc-tor of Air Services, before liis departure by the Marama for England. ‘.‘At the moment it would be too much to expect a number of commercial, routes to spring up overnight, but they will conic in time. Wing Commander Dalton said tlrnlt already a start had- been made with commercial services. .He could • see that the time would conie when New Zealand would 'be covered by. air routes, Once the main routes had been organised there seemed, to he no reason why sipaUcr feeder , routes should not spring up ali over the country, thereby'"putting , isolated, communities in touch with the main centres. ' " " '• “In the meantime, ”j, he said, “itvis my hope thait private aviation Will continue to flourish."' The numerous aviation clubs th.at have sprung up all over the North and South Islands are the backbone of aviation in the country. Let it be the amhition of every instructor to turn out well-trained pilots. There is no need to rush matters. Too much time cannot be .taken in laying tbe foundation of air-minded-ness. Clubs can establish a standard of reliability in those they train that should go a long way to gain and keep the confidence of the general public. j GOOD PILOTS. “In mv opinion a pilot who is properly trained in New Zealand can bold liis own with the pilots of any other country. With the return to prosperity I am certain that good use will he made of the aeroplane in New Zealand. It has been shown already that it iu possible to travel from one end of the Dominion to the other in a matter of hours, and the Tasman has been crossed on two occasions. It may he too much to expect that commercial trans-Tasman developments will materialise on the basis of only two trips. Considerable snade-work is still required before that happens.” It had beeD his hope, he said, while Director of Air Services, to make it possible for a member of the New Zealand Air Force to be the first to make the trio from England to New Zealand. But for the need for strict economy that would have been accomplished in a seaplane. There were many pilots in the Dominion perfectly capable of making the trip. RETURN PROBABLE. “Now that we are going,” said the i Wing Comamndcr, “I feel that I must cay that both my wife and myself have enjoyed every moment of our all too brief stay. New Zealand is famous for the hospitality that it Extends to visitors. Every single member of my family can vouch for thaJt, and so far as they are concerned this fame does not rest upon mere empty words. For the last few months we have been able to gain a knowledge of j life in the country districts. Wo shall never forgot the fun we have had and the friends we have made. We are all sincerely sorry to he leaving. Indeed, it is perhaps not giving juvay a secret to say that there is every chance the near future that we may decide to return and settle in jtfew Zealand.”