AIRWAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 610, 12 March 1929, Page 14

AIRWAY

(By

"THE ROC.”)

Two ex-war pilots, Major K. Caldwell and Capt. D. Harkness, have commenced to get their hand in again and during last week both ventured out solo in the Aero Club's Moth planes. Quite a number of ex-war pilots are members of the club, but some of these have done little or no flying since they were on active service. Consequently. in some cases a few minutes’ dual instruction is undertaken. * * * Flying Hours The total flying time of the Auckland Aero Club’s two Motli planes last week was 16 hours 25 minutes. Of this, 13 hours 35 minutes was spent in tho air by Major Cowper in dual instructing-, and 2 hours 35 minutes carrying passengers, while solo flights undertaken for 15 minutes were spent in the air by pilot members of the club. Nineteen pupils are at the present time under instruction and the majority of these are doing exceptionally well. Major Cowper announced this morning that he hoped to have some of his pupils flying jsolo next week. Coming Pageant At the Blenheim Aero Club's recent pageant, which is reported to have been run off very successfully, there were three machines present. The Auckland Club’s pageant, which is fixed to take place in the near future, will feature any number of planes from nine to twelve. With the Aero Club’s two Motli machines and possibly three by that time, the other macihnes to take part in the grand opening display will be those of two private companies now operating in Auckland. It is also hoped that some of the Government machines from the South will be present. * * * Prominent Chinese Airmen Two Chinese airmen, Commander Yu Dfaubau and Mr. Wen Liu-tsclien, will shortly leave London in a twoseater Cirrus-Avian light plane for Nanking, the first attempt on a Lon-don-China flight in a British airplane, states a recent message received from London. The machine is one of 14 that China has ordered, fitted with Handley-Page safety wing Model Airplane Club The “Hoc” has received the second number of the New Zealand Model Airplane Club’s official journal. Following are some of the news items: Tho club’s secretary, Mr. Hope-Ede, has resigned his position owing to pressure of private business. He still remains, however, an active member of the club. Mr. McLaren is carrying on in the meantime as secretary and all correspondence should be addressed to him at 53 Forbes Street, Onehunga. The committee intend in the future to hold a general meeting once a month, but so far nothing definite has been arranged. Arrangements are in hand for a flight competition to take place some time at the end of this month. Members who own shop built airplanes will not be barred from the flight competition, as there will be a special class for them. * * * 360 m.p.h. Proposed In the forthcoming Schneider Cup race, to be held on a selected course on the Solent, Isle of Wight, in August, hopes are high for another British success. In 1927 Britain won the trophy with the Supermarine Napier, and, as the present holder, nominated the course for this year’s race. Great Britain, France and Italy have already accepted, and late entries will in all probability be received from America and Germany. Though Britain had only the Italians as competitors, their feat was remarkable, and this year they are expected to win again. The machine used will either be a Napierengined outfit, or else the Gloster, with Rolls Koyce engines. There is a great deal of mystery about the American and German entries. Talk of a new type bullet plane, with 2.000 h.p. motors, compares favourably with a proposed two-engined German machine. Mushrooms by Air Over seven tons of mushrooms were flown from Paris to London in the Handley-Page air freighters of

Imperial Airways during a period of two weeks recently. The mushrooms were gathered just outside Paris in the morning and were on sale in London early in the afternoon of the same day. * * Angel's Kiss Sir Charles Wakefield, one who has now come to be known as the "Patron of Aviation” by the great, assistance he has given throughout the British Empire in fostering civil flying, recently presented to the Xew South Wales Aero Club a trophy called the ‘‘Angel’s Kiss Cup.” Among flying men a good landing is termed an "angel’s kiss.” Landing is possibly one of the best tests as to the ability of the pilot and Sir Charles presented the cup for a competition in landings. Ten pilots entered and it was stipulated that each pilot was to fly to a height of 500 feet, shut off his engine and land as close to a given spot as possible. The event was won by Mr. B. Shipway, who is one of the club’s own trained pilots. It is intended that the Kohn Cup, which has been presented to the Auckland Aero Club, will be contested for in a similar competition. The Graf Zeppelin "The Times” correspondent at Frankfurt states that Dr. Eckener has announced his plans for this year. Upon the execution of the remaining trial flights pi-escribed by the German experimental office for aeronautics, the Graf Zeppelin will probably make a long trip across the Mediterranean to Egypt and Palestine some time this

month, the British‘ Government having placed a. mooring mast at the disposal of the airship for a. landing at Port Said. The cruise round the world will most probably take place in the sunx—mcr. On this venture, in addition to a. number of passengers, the airship will carry a large quantity of "mail. Negotiations are. also in progress for the construction of :1 new Zeppelin, which is to be completed by next year, and will much exceed the size of the Graf Zeppelin. ' Vs $ Largest Searchlight

\Vhat is said to be the largtd. searchlight in the world has recently been completed by an electrical firm in .London. It has a candle power of ap—proximately 3.500,000,000. and if the limitations of the horizon could be overcome and clear weather were to prevail. it would be visible for hundreds of miles. It is to be mounted on a. Continental power fortress, and may be controlled from a distance by electricity. This searchlight is mounted on :1 trolley, which runs on narrow-gauge tracks. In this position it is about 14 feet high and its diameter is nearly seven feet. There is said to be so much space inside that a. man can easily move around for cleaning and making necessary adjustments. Although this heavy machine may be controlled by hand smoothly and easily, even for rapid searching ‘ movements. it can nevertheless be‘ operated—depressed. elevated and ‘ swung—bx electricity. 1‘