The Airway

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 680, 4 June 1929, Page 14

The Airway

By

"THE ROC"

THE VARIOUS TYPES OF AIRPLANES

rIOSE not closely associated with aviation are perhaps puzzled at the many different types of aircraft in vogue today. But the reason for the great diversity of types is that the airplane is a highly specialised vehicle of transport, and that maximum efficiency can only be obtained by utilising a definite type of plane for a given job.

Between the small, lower-powered sport plane and the big multi-motored transport ship, there are many intermediate planes, each constructed in a particular way to perform a distinct function. As yet, New Zealanders are best acquainted with the ordinary light sport planes such as the D.H. Moth, as used by the various areo clubs, and the Avro Avian. At present there are no seaplanes, although during the war period when the activities of the Walsh Bros.’ flying school at Kohimarama were in full swing, Aucklanders had the pleasure of viewing many seaplanes and flying-boats in constant use. Of the many “intermediate” types of ftircrafe, there is the amphibian, which will land either on water or land; the various seaplanes, ■which range from the small plane with pontoons to the huge flying-boats; fast racers with great horsepower and small bodies and wings: others which depart entirely from ordinary conventions, such as the autogiro with its revolving surfaces, and the planes using various forms of slots or auxiliary wings. The light sport plane is an easily recognisable "bus.” It usually features an open cockpit, holding two persons and is powered with a low horse-powered motor, which is economical on fuel consumption. These planes, possibly the best known of which is the Moth, are mostly used for the training of young pilots, and for the use of private owners, who wish to hop about the country at a small expense. They are easily manoeuvrable. and most of them are well built and very safe. With the debut of commercial flying on a reasonably large scale, it can veil be expected that various types will be operated in the Dominion. It is possible that the flying-boat or the amphibian will eventually prove the most popular for New Zealand’s commercial purposes owing to their great seaworthiness while floating on the water, and the ideal harbours and bays round both Islands, which lend themselves so admirably to the landing of such aircraft. SMALL CABIN PLANE Possibly the popular plane of the future for the private owner w'ill be the small cabin machine. At present these are in common use in Germany and America, but so far British aircraft builders have not specialised to any extent on this type. Certainly the D.H. firm have turned out the Hawk Moth, which is of the cabin design, but compared with the American and German machines it is far from suitable for the private owner, owing mainly to its size and initial cost. In the cabin plane it is not necessary to wear helmet and goggles. The cabin may be warmed, and even in rainy weather they are com-

fertahle. They are the limousines of the air. They are Ideal for use on the smaller mail lines, and are certainly the right type for starting passenger services, for they have a high load capacity with economy of operation.

The larger planes range from singleengined multi-seaters for passenger work carrying from four to 10 passengers, to large three and fourengined passenger-carriers carrying up to 40 passengers; and some aircraft designers of today are contemplating building passenger-carrying airplanes fitted with 10 or 12 motors and capable of carrying 100 passengers. On the military side, in addition to the fighters, there are single-engined, fast two and tliree-seater bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, and larger two, three and four-engined land and water planes, capable of transporting very

large bombs and torpedoes for attacking towns, troops and ships.

THE MACHINE FOR NEW ZEALAND But to turn to the machine which is likely to play a considerable part in New Zealand’s future flying activities, the amphibian is very different in appearance from other planes, having both landing gear and flying’boat hull. These planes are really flying boats which may be landed on land by means of auxiliary wheels. Many persons interested in flying in the Dominion believe that they will be of increasing importance, because of this added safety factor alone, and that on routes along the coast or where lakes and rivers are frequent they must prove the passenger aircraft of the future.

Some flying boats are monoplanes and some biplanes, but all are recognisable by their large and peculiarlyshaped hull, which in all cases, more resembles a boat than the fuselage of a plane. They are built primarily as passenger craft and are used quite extensively on commercial airways in various parts of the world. Probably the flying boat will be the ultimate heavier-than-air transatlantic craft.

AIRISMS

Nine of tlie Auckland Aero Club’s pupils have completed the instructional courses and are awaiting the tests for pilots’ certificates. These certificates will be granted by Major L. M. Isitt, officer commanding the Hobsonville Air Base. Following are the pupils awaiting the Air Force test certificates: Messrs. T. Philcox, J. Gardner, L. Crosbie, L. Anderson, A. Hodson, E. Luks. R. Talbot, T. McLaughlin and S. A. Andrews. Worth Reading There is a rare treat ahead of those folk who have not read “War Birds— The Diary of an Unknown Aviator.” For those who have enjoyed this modern classic two others await them. They are two books from the pen of Elliott Springs, who edited “War Birds” —“Above the Bright Blue Sky,” and “Medaille Militaire.” Springs can certainly write and, knowing his air, has produced some excellent stuff in both books. Aid to Night Flyers Comes word from America of the televox, latest aid to night flyers. A Westinghouse invention, installed at the Newark (U.S.A.) airport, it turned on floodlights in response to a siren sounded by the pilot of an approaching plane. The tests were conducted at distances of 2,000 ft and 3,000 ft away from the instrument, which amplified the sound waves to the point required to turn on the lights. Further experiments will be made with a view to installing the televox for regular service at American airports.

U.S.A.-Australia Service Another plan to aerially link Australia with the outside world has been placed before President Hoover. It was drawn up by the Goodyear-Zep-pelin Company, the biggest lighter-than-air enterprise in U.S.A.; and it provides for a mail and passenger dirigible service between Los Angeles and Hawaii, with extensions to the Philippines, Japan, China and Australia. If the administration approved of a mail contract being granted for the first section, the work of constructing one dirigible would be put in hand as early as possible, and the service established in 1932. The dirigible would cost about £900,000, and the Goodyear Company was prepared to spend £2,000,000 to hold and maintain the Pacific-Orient service.

Obviously the Goodyear-Zeppelin has unshakcable faith in the airship; which is more than can be said of most people, since the last buffeting of the Graf Zeppelin. However, the fact remains that, according to local Goodyear advices, President Hoover commented favourably on the project.