AIRWAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 498, 30 October 1928, Page 14

AIRWAY

“Per iter coeli” This is the motto of the Auckland Aero Club, which, when translated, reads: “Along the courseway of the Heavens.” * * * The Aero Club’s handbook has now been completed and should be ready for distribution to members in a few days. The booklet, which is most comprehensive, should answer the numerous inquiries of those interested. It is printed on good paper and is well bound. Following are some of the interesting extracts: Membership Membership of the club is open to both men and women. It is not restricted to pilots or persons actually engaged in aviation. There are no technical or other qualifications.

To Become A Member Candidates for membership must be nominated and seconded by members of the club. Election is by the committee. Should any person not know members of the club who can sign the nomination form, the committee can arrange for the nomination if satisfactory references are provided. Advantages of Membership 1 — Opportunity to meet and associate with persons interested in aviation. 2 Use of the club’s airplanes. 3 Badge of membership admitting members through public barriers on the airdrome and to club house when erected. 4 Club entertainments, lectures and meetings. Passenger Flights Except under special circumstances, members and their friends are not taken for flights on week days, as the instructors are fully occupied with training work. On Saturday and on Sunday afternoon members and their friends 6an have flights if desired, as experienced pilot members of the club are usually available to take them. A £1 flight in good weather enables the passenger to get an excellent view of Auckland and the harbour from about 2.000 feet. Longer flights can also bo arranged. The following are the prices for passenger flights: £3 10s per hour, £2 per half hour; short flights, ss, 10s and £l.

Charges The charges for instruction are £3 10s per hour in the air, with dual instruction, and £2 10s per hour in the air solo flying. On this basis of charging the average cost of qualifying for private pilot’s licence should be about £3O, including entrance fee and subscription. Syllabus of Training The syllabus of the course for private pilot’s licence is as follows: 1— Taxying and handling of engine. 2 Demonstration of effect of controls with and without engine. 3 Straight flying, level flying, climbing, stalling. 4 Gliding straight. 5 Taking off into wind. 6 Landing into wind and judging distance. 7 Turns up to 45 degrees. 8 — Gliding turns. 9 Turns over 45 degrees, with and without engine. 10— Elementary instruction in forced landings. 11— Solo. 12— Spinning and recovery. The advanced course includes instruction in the following subjects: 1— Climbing turns. 2 Sideslipping. 3 Taking off and landing across wind. 4 Simple aerobatics. 's—Advanced instruction in forced landing. 6 —Low flying (i.e., correct turns at low altitudes). Equipment Recommended The equipment which pupils are advised to get is as follows (but they should consult the instructor before actually buying):— Flying helmet: Of leather, with strap under chin. This must be fitted with ear pieces for telephones, which can be obtained from the instructor. Helmets must fit well. Goggles: Triplex or other unsplinterable goggles are recommended. Should fit snugly round eyes and not restrict vision. Overalls: A suit of mechanic’s overalls will be found most useful. Rubber shoes: Any good shoes with light rubber soles will be found suitable. Ordinary sandshoes will do. At a meeting of the committee of the Auckland Aero Club, held last evening, the secretary, Mr. L. W. Swan, read a budget of correspond -

ence which had been received fvarious towns surrounding AuckSS 1 giving satisfactory- replies to a quest made by the club for suitak' landing grounds. • * * New Company for Auckland With the intention of event*, n. moving toward the goal of transport on a large scale, a comSj is at the present time being S in Auckland which includes ma?s Auckland s prominent business L. A Blackburn Bluebird convert?:? machine has already been order? from England, and it is intended n as a preliminary to the core Da? more serious activities this plane*-’ be used for joy-riding, aerial pho-,’ graphy and aerial survey. History of Aviation With a view to establishing made the first Wight in a hear?? than-air machine in the British the Royal Aero Club has set ud special committee, of which Lo-‘ Ciorell has consented to be the eh?' man, to investigate claims to ear? In spite of variots histori? which have been written there t? always been some doubt about certa?

Owing to the interest caused the all-steel Bristol single-seat figlir. at the Paris Show recently, the Br? tol Airplane Co.. Ltd., has opened I, office at Boulevard Gouvion St Crr Paris. Captain K. J. G. Bartlett, *b will no doubt be known to many New Zealand’s ex-war pilots, is' • charge.

Imperial Airways Imperial Airways. Ltd.. England was formed in April, 1924, as the re. suit of the Hambling Committee which sat in 1923 to inquire into and r* commend to the Government the best means of developing commercial avi*. tion. Sir Eric Geddes, who receiriy resigned the chairmanship in ores that he may give his undivided «. tention to the Dunlop organisation had been chairman since the co:> pany’s formation. The financial results for the four years have been:—First year, £15,0M loss; second year, £20,000 loss; third year, £II,OOO profit; fourth £72,500 profit. The percentage of scheduled flight* completed has increased from 75 per cent, in the first year to 93 percent, in the fourth year. The passenger* carried during the four years hav* been: First year, 11,170; second yen:, 11,529; third year, 16,807; fourth yea: 25,313. In over 3,000,000 miles flows there has been only one fatal acti* dent among those 64,819 fare-payin* passengers carried. * • •

Linen Airplanes! Metallised linen, a new fabric, may bring about a complete change in the construction of aircraft. It has a tensile strength of over I,Boolb a foe: width, and is very light. An airplane half the present weight, yet considerably stronger, could be constructed from such a fabric, while petrol tins for an Atlantic flight could be of metallised material lighter than the thinnest aluminium.

Twelve Engines The roar of a gigantic airplay with 12 engines and a total of 5,0 i• horse-power will soon be heard over

the Atlantic. The Dornier works are building a transatlantic plane known by the cryptic name ol DOX at Altenrhein, in Switzerland. No airplane or seaplane has hither - had more than four motors. The V. motors of the DOX will be arranged in six tandems of two each, and wC have 12 propellers. This Aquitan:? of the air will thus have a motorpower double that of the great Zeppelin airship LZI27, which is nearin? completion in the yards at Friedrichshafen. German aviators hope thatth* new giant air liner, which is to make a trial trip across the Atlantic during the si | imer, will inaugurate a regular passenger air service between Europe and America. The DOX w. be able to land on the water, and built so strongly that it will be tc» defy the rage of the open ocean. It will carry from 25 to 30 passengers as well as a certain amount o. freight, in addition to the large quar; lilies of fuel for the supply of tee 12 motors. The crew will consist oi * captain, two pilots, two engineers, an a wireless operator, and the cnar. room will, with its equipment -■ nautical instruments, resemble thatan ordinary ocean liner. • • % Air Raid Relic

Steeped in tragedy was an at Richmond airdrome recently, stat - tha “Daily Guardian.” . Tapping Squadron-Leader Lukia -- the shoulder, a slight figure in oar* grey, who had been watching • trial flights of the Spirit of tralia, stepped forward and, presence of “Doc” Maidment ana couple of pressmen, remarked:-7 “I’ve brought up something *o car for the boys to exhibit in meSS.” . «,/\rrio3 The exhibit turned out to be P o *? of the metal work of the first _ pelin that was brought down at ‘ ter’s Bar, England, 13 years agoof the Zepp’s “props” were *® CI also in the trophy. k » The donor was Captain E.GeaKc. prominent civil /gineer and res - officer, who helped to solve aerial problems during the war.