WHY NOT SEAPLANES?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 483, 12 October 1928, Page 1

WHY NOT SEAPLANES?

NEW ZEALAND’S AVIATION NEEDS LANDING DIFFICULTIES (From Our Resident Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday., “I cannot understand why the Dominion is thinking in terms of light airplanes, now that it is turning toward aviation,” said a New Zealand aviator to-day. “For a country such as this the> seaplane is much more suitable. “New Zealand is amply furnished with waterways and lakes, and to the seaplane each of these represents a landing-place. If the intending aviators commit theihselves to airplanes they will have about half a dozen landing grounds in the Dominion/ For a seaplane there are thousands of such landing-place. Any place that provides a few feet of water will do. “There are other advantages. Expensive airdromes are rendered unnecessary—all that is wanted is a hangar, and the plane Hself can be anchored. Further: the aim of the Government in encouraging aero clubs is to foster flying for the purpose of defence. If this country were attacked it would be by sea, and what use is a land plane against an attack by sea? But the great asset of the seaplane is its suitability for the country. Instead of having to fly to a properly appointed landing-ground (any piece of earth will not do for a landing), the seaplane pilot could pop down practically anywhere. Nowhere would he be long out of sight of water. It is true that the seaplane costs more than the light plane, bfit then it lasts a good deal longer.”