Ocean Flights in Land Machines

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 146, 10 September 1927, Page 1

Ocean Flights in Land Machines

“SHOULD BE PROHIBITED”

SIR KEITH SMITH ON AIR PROBLEMS CSpecial to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. “Governments, if they have the power, should absolutely prohibit attempts to cross the Atlantic in airplanes, if the machines are not so constructed as to be capable of landing on the water and floating for 24 hours.” This opinion was'expressed by Sir Keith Smith, the Australian airman, wh. arrived from Wellington yesterday on a visit to Christchurch. “No land machines should be allowed to tackle such flights,” he added. COMMERCIAL FLYING Commenting on the commercial possibilities of flying, he said: "The commercial side of flying in New Zealand is not very easy to develop owing to the small population. “The linking of the Dominion with the Empire airship service depends on whether there is material to make it a commercial success. The same thing applies to the development of \irplane services within New Zeaand. “A service from Auckland would save a great deal of time in the arrivals of mails, but investigations would have to be made as to whether there is enough first-class mail on which business men would pay a sur-charge to justify the service.” Sir Keith said that he was particularly interested in tlm airship service, as one of th new ships was being built for the British Government by his firm, Vickers. The service was bound to come to New Zealand ultimately, just as to every other place in the world, because of the great amount of time saved in transport. He was satisfied that the amphibian was the type of machine that should be employed in New Zealand, as, while such machines could use all available airdromes, they could if necessary land in water while on long trips or skirting the coast. This part of the country was verysuitable for flying, he said. Though the North Island was rougher, landing fields could be made in most places. THE TASMAN FLIGHT

“Crossing the Tasman does not present the same difficulties, as distances three times that of from the Dominion to Australia have already been flown. All the same, it is a job for an airship, and not for a plane.” Questioned by a SUN reporter, Sir Keith said that the Tasman flight might be possible commercially with large three-engined flying boats. At present there was not information available concerning the performance of these machines. Flying had increased remarkably in popularity in England, said Sir Keith. Insurance companies were issuing policies on privately-owned machines. The public looked upon flying as quite a normal means of transport. barge numbers of people flew for both business and pleasure. Practically no accidents occurred in passenger flying. No risks were taken. “Popular flying has already arrived in Australia,” he said. “The Commonwealth has seven lightplane clubs, and about 30 machines, all doing remarkably well. This is bound to come in New Zealand, too.” Sir Keith, who has just come from London, leaver for the North to-night on his way to Sydney.