CHEAP PLANES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 330, 16 April 1928, Page 10

CHEAP PLANES

DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOTH GREATLY INCREASED OUTPUT While Mr. Hinkler’s flight to Australia in a light airplane was being talked about everywhere, writes the aeronautical correspondent of the “Morning Post,” Lcfiidon, something of a surprise was caused in the air world by the announcement of a large reduction in the price of a popular make of light airplane. The De Haviland Moth two-seater can now be bought in England, fully equipped with instruments, outfit of tools, covers for engine, airscrew, and cockpit, fully • taxed and registered for one year, and painted in the owner’s choice of colours for £650. Mr. St. Barbe, business manager of the De Haviland Company, says that ! the reduction had been made possible I tlle increased output. They were ! now turning out one Moth machine a day. A year ago they were only | turning out three machines a fortnight.

An inspection of the works revealed a development almost exactly parallel to that of the motor industry. The systems of series production are the same, ana so are the arrangements for providing owners with service and spare parts.

A number of Moths for Canada were m course of construction. These machines have been ordered by the fit e flying clubs that have just been ormed out there. The machines are painted yellow, because it has been found that, in that colour, they show UP r> St a ° ainst a background of snow. uut on the airdrome were the six Moths just completed for the Air Min-