MORE AIRPLANES NEEDED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 465, 21 September 1928, Page 1

MORE AIRPLANES NEEDED

Auckland Aero Club Appeals For Support of All Citizens TWO MACHINES IN SIGHT ALREADY there has been a splendid response to the Auckland Aero Club s appeal for airplanes to be used in training pilots and providing the city with a flying base. One machine has been promised, and the club is hopeful that the subscription list opened to the public yesterday by THE SUN and headed by the names of Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm will be the means of providing another. “If we are to be successful in providing Auckland with an air base worthy of the city, and training the large numbers of pupils who are joining up, six machines will be needed,” said Mr. H. T. Merritt, chairman of the club’s committee, this morning.'

In appealing to the citizens of Auckland for their sympathy and support, the members of the Aero Club atress the fact that an air fleet numbering from four to six machines at ■ least is necessary for the proper carrying out of the work that lies ahead. The triumph of the Southern Cross flyers, and the enthusiasm roused throughout New Zealand has created, in every section of the community, a tlesire to assist materially in helping forward the hitherto lagging cause of pominion aviation. The invitation is extended by the Aero Club to everyone who is able, in even the smallest way, to help Auckland in taking its rightful place as an air centre. The example set by SquadronLeader Kingsford Smith, FlightLieutenant Ulm and others whose names head the list now open at THE SUN office, has been emulated by the directors of the "New Zealand Herald,” who announced this morning that they had decided to make a gift of a machine to the club.

"We are delighted with the response that has been made to the appeal,” said Mr. Merritt. “We are also particularly pleased that the citizens of Auckland are being given the opportunity of helping. “Even the smallest sums will be welcome, for the club must have a number of machines if flying is to be established successfully in Auckland, and our expenses will be heavy quite apart from the cost of the airplanes themselves. “Already we have enough pupils to keep two machines busy for 12 months, and as the numbers increase, more machines will be needed urgently; otherwise training and practices will be seriously delayed.” Mr. Merritt said that the club’s membership was at present 300, and of this number 56 were pupils. There was no limit to the membership, and the number of pupils that could be trained depended on the number of machines that would be available. With a fleet of six machines the club could train 200 pilots in a year, and such a programme would enable Auckland to acquire the familiarity with aviation and its modern uses — the “air sense” —that was so necessary in keeping the city and its people abreast of world progress. “It must be recognised that the training of pilots wm. be only a part of the club’s work,” he explained. “Above everything we want to cultivate that ‘air sense' in everyone. To-day the word ‘flying’ conveys in many quarters • suggestion of danger. This is the impression we must eradicate. “That the danger of flying has been reduced to a minimum is proved by the fact that in the Old World, per-

sonal insurance *rates for the air are actually lower than for the sea/' In conclusion, Mr. Merritt said that there was no purpose to be served in putting pupils through the course if there were to be an insufficient number of airplanes for their use, and for the use of the community. At present Ihumata had been selected as the club’s grounds and in five weeks’ time a hangar large enough to house three machines would be erected there. The subscription list that has been opened by The Sun in response to the Auckland Aero Club’s appeal is now available at The Sun office. It is as follows: £ Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm 21 Mr. Robert Burns (president of the Auckland Aero Club) .... 50 THE SUN Newspapers, Ltd 50