AIR ISMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 776, 24 September 1929, Page 7

AIR ISMS

Planes for Auckland Four airplanes were landed in Auckland from the steamer Port Melbourne last Friday. These were two Fairey lII.F. machines for service at the Hobsonville Base, and two GipsyMoths, one for the Auckland Aero Club and one for the Air Survey and Transport Company. With alternative land and seaplane undercarriages, the Faireys are superior to any service machines previously imported into the Dominion. Their "power plant is the well-known Napier-Dion 12-cylinder engine, with a rated output of about 530 horsepower. and capable of a speed exceeding 150 miles an hour. The Fairey 111. F- is one of the most versatile of modern British machines. It is made in two and threeseater types, and is of all-metal construction. Its design adapts it for fighting, reconnaissance, photography or bombing. It has a wing span of 45ft 9in. and a length of 32ft bin. No Landing-Grounds It is understood that, as no suitable landing-grounds can be found on the Hauraki Plains, where farms are subdivided into small paddocks for dairying. Mr. J. D. Hewitt a Kaihere farmer who possesses a Moth, is not able to visit other centres in the district for the purpose of taking passengers for short flights. It is stated that practically every resident ot Halhere has been for a trip. Through the Night Manv thousands of miles have now been flown at night on the PertbAdelaidc route, and with the lighting equipment used, the course is cleariy defined and landing grounds well illuminated, reports Western Australia Airways. It is usual to pick up the searchlight beacons at distances ot .0 to SO miles, but on one occasion a beacon was observed when 110 miles distant. * * * Fastest Air Flights The New Hawker Rolls-Royce Hornet said to Be the fastest fighting airplane in the world, is now being tested by Air Ministry pilots Its Junction is to climb to a high altitude at great speed to attack enemy raiders Its 500 horsepower Rolls tov.e engine is specially supercharged to enable it to maintain its power in the rarefied air at high alti-

[ tudes, and the pilot is equipped with | oxygen breathing apparatus and elecj trically heated clothing. I * * * British Non-Stop Record The Fairey long-distance monoplane fitted with Napier engine is now being overhauled in preparation for another attempt upon the longdistance record. Squadron-Leader A. G. Jones-Williams and Flight-Lieuten-ant N. H. Jenkins will again be the ! crew. The new route will probably i be toward Capetown, which will give ; a greater range than the previous : route through India, as the most direct I distance between Cranwcll and Cape- ! town —allowing for the curvature of the globe, is about 6,000 miles. Should it not be possible for the monoplane to reach Capetown an alternative I landing place may be' Durban, which is nearer to Cranwell by about 600 ! miles. Both towns already possess airdromes, the larger one being at : Capetown. On the last attempt the I monoplane flew non-stop to Karachi and some distance bej'ond, covering 4.130 miles. The record is 4.453 miles, | which was set up by the Italian airI men, Captain Ferrarin and 3lajor de Prete.