Ministers Inspect Airdrome Site

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 551, 2 January 1929, Page 8

Ministers Inspect Airdrome Site

POWER LINE INTERFERES

WORK AT HOBSONVILLE

Because an electric power line crosses the main harbour channel on steel towers close to the airplane base at Hobsonvilie, night flying will be impossible. This statement was made on Monday afternoon by Major I*. M. Isitt. when a party of Ministers and members of Parliament visited the site of thu airdrome. The members of the party were the I’ostmaster-G enerai, the lion. J. L'.. L>onald, and the Minister of Health, tho Hon. A. J. tall worthy, and Messrs. M. J. Savage, A. Harris and J- S. Fletcher, M.IVs. With the aid of plans. Major Isitt explained the lay-out of buildings and other works. The landing ground has been formed on the highest part of the property, near the road, and is a gently undulating area. Three runways have been formed along the line of different prevailing winds. On these there is no grade exceeding 1 in 100, and they are about 1,200 yards long. Major Isitt was questioned by some of the party about the electric power line, and he replied that as long as an overhead power line existed so close, night landing would be impossible. All pilots alighting or taking off in the daytime would have to abide by certain definite instructions. He had obtained an estimate of the lowest cost of carrying the power line across the channel by' cable. In laying underground electric mains on the aidrome, provision had been made for installing landing-lights later if they were required. On the harbour shore the party was shown tho site, about 160 ft square, for the two seaplane hangars, workshops and manoeuvring ground, also the beginning of the concrete slipway 280 ft long, extending almost to the middle of the channel, from which the seaplanes will be launched. Other works are a. small wooden tower on a bluff for signalling to seaplants entering the channel, a 12,000gallon water tower in course of erection, a house for the commandant, nearly’ complete, and various new roadways.