THE AIRWAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 864, 7 January 1930, Page 14

THE AIRWAY

(By THE KOC.)

Essay Prize-Winner “Most Suitable Airplane for N.Z. THE first prize essay in “The Roc’s” special competition for children between the ages of 12 and 15 in which one guinea and half-guinea prizes were offered, was won by Robert John Gilmore, Auckland Savings Bank, Newmarket (aged 14), who contributed the following:*—

In all parts of this young country are evidences of he rapid growth of Vhat is known as the “air-sense.” Aero clubs are being formed in each province and now we hear of the establishment of companies whose object it is to set New Zealand aviation on a commercial basis. The latest development is the inevitable discussion on the airplane most suitable for use in the country. Let us consider the conditions under which planes would have to work on a service between Auckland and Christchurch, a journey probably requiring about six hours. Theoretically there should be a chain of main airports with emergency landinggrounds in between so that in the event of engine trouble the pilot would have a reasonable chance of making a safe landing. It is likely that several years will elapse before we see anything approaching a chain of dromes. Many parts of the country are covered with dense bush as in the Urewera. In other places are rugged mountains on which no plane oould possibly effect a landing. Judging from a relief map which I have in front of me, the least average distance apart of flying fields would be about one hundred miles. UTILISING THE LAKES However, the deficiency in suitable landing grounds is partially made up for by the splendid asset which we possess in our inland lakes, the most noteworthy of which are Taupo, Rotorua. Waikaremoana and that great stretch of water behind Arapun: Dam.

The beautiful sounds branching off Cook Strait would also afford suitable landing “grounds” for a machine with floats. It is clear then that the ideal machine must be capable of sustained flights in all weather and must be capable of landing on both land and water. Amphibian undercarriages can now be fitted to most machines; those are undercarriages on which wheels are fitted at the side of the floats. When it is desired to land on water, a movement of a lever raises the wheels above the floats and viceversa. For sustained flights, a threeengined machine would be most desirable. There are several planes obtainable which comply with the conditions just mentioned. The most reasonably priced “ship” seems to me to be the short “Calcutta” flying-boat, a British piece of workmanship, having three motors and a splendid record for general efficiency. No difficulty should be experienced in fitting an amphibian undercarriage to such a craft. Its hull, wings, spars and tail are of aluminium and it is very roomy. Using such a flying-boat, the journey could be commenced from Auckland Airdrome and landings made at Hamilton, and for the benefit of tourists at Lake Rotorua, on Lake Taupo and on the flying field at Palmerston North and so on, right to Christchurch. There is a possibility that by this time two or three years hence all the centres will be connected by air-

line and that nearly all mails and passengers will be travelling—to quote the motto of lie Auckland Aero' Club — “Per Iter Coeli.”