AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1933, Page 5

AVIATION

TURNING OUT AEROPLANES,

(United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

LONDON, March 13. A largo order fo r fighting and bombing aeroplanes has just been placed wi»h a British company by the, Belgian Government. The fighting planes are “ capable of a speed of 220 miles This the latest of many recent examples which show the high reputation British aircraft manufacturers enjoy throughout tl’.ie world. This ig the third successive year' in which Belgium 'has- -placed orders for aircraft with th e same company. . British aeroplanes were also sold recently by another manufacturing firm to the Governments of Norway, Japan, Bsthoma, Jugoslavia, Denmark and ,'Greeoe. Tho value °f these orders amounted to -hundreds of thousands of pounds. When air disarmament was discussed lately fear® were expressed that the British aeroplane industry would guffer if any comprehensive scheme was adopted. Orders for . fighting and bombing machines certainly- do a great deal at present to keep aeroplane manufacturers busy, and their, factories' would be very useful to the Royal Ah Force in case of an emergency.

ROBOT AEROPLANE PILOT. LONDON, MurclfX3. Before long a robot aeroplane may be able to carry one from Land’s End. to Aberdeen or' Ultima Thule .without human pilotage. Thi, s result is foreshadowed by the “pilot's” desSister*** 3iSP* .sighed by the British Air Ministry to relieve pilots of the physical and nervous strain of flying .for ]<vy>g periods. After the plot has taken.off tuul gained some-altitude, this apparatus takes ove r the rudder and elevator controle, and in actual practice the robot has bean proved to keep a better course than the human pilot is able to d°. The instrument consists, of an air-driven free gyroscope which operates arr-valve s supplying the servo-motors connected with the controls.

WOMAN PLANS LONG FLIGHT

AUSTRALIA TO ENGLAND

MELBOURNE, March 13

Mrs F. Bennett, wife of a teaplanter in Assam, arrived in the Strathnaver, and after a few weeks will continue her journey to Java, whence she will fly to England in her own plane—a Comper Swift. It is a single-seater machine-—the smallest type used on this route—and i s similar to the plane in which Mr A. Butler made his record flight from England to Australia. “Although I have done a great deal of flying both in England and Indja, it was only recently that I thought of this long flight,” said Mrs Bennett, “It will be no record-breaking dash. So far I have not settled definitely on the route I will take, but I will probably follow the Butch mail-’planes track. If this flight is successful, 1 will come from England to Assam by some other, more unusual route.” Mrs Bennett said that flying was becoming popular for women in England and India, “Hendon, where I learnt, has many women members, and a wonderful club house,” se added. “Then Bengal Flying Club also has its women' pilots. “Flying, I consider, is an excellent pastime for women, especially those who if’.re compelled to live in isolated parts. It develops the judgment, and compels one to make quick'decisions. Polo is also becoming popular among women in India, according to Mrs Bennett. '

“In Assam, there is an enthusiastic women’s polo team, and although we have lots of fun ?,nd strenuous exercise, there are never any serious accidents.”