H.—37.

The centralized maintenance scheme mentioned in last year's report has been in full operation at Flying Training Schools during the past year, and has resulted in a considerable economy in the use of technical personnel, with greater efficiency. An average aircraft serviceability of 80 per cent, has been maintained throughout units, in spite of difficulties in obtaining spares from overseas. _ The policy adopted for the complete overhaul of Service type airframes is similar to that now in force in the Royal Air Force. This enables the utmost use to be made of technical equipment and facilities now available. Elementary training aircraft are overhauled for the Service by the de Havilland Aircraft Co., whose plant is now adequate to deal with the present rate of repairs and overhauls. The equipment of the Service Flying Training Schools as completely self-contained units, as far as maintenance and overhaul of airframes and engines is concerned, has proved During the last six months, for instance, forty-five Cheetah X engines, seventy Pegasus llm3, and thirty-three Panther lla engines have been overhauled in the engine-repair sections of the three schools. This has greatly relieved the depot at Hobsonville and has enabled this unit to concentrate on the erection of aircraft received from overseas. General engineering sections have, to a great extent, helped to meet the problem of obtaining supplies of spares. The workshops at No. I F.T.S., Wigram, in particular, have been called upon to manufacture spares and equipment not otherwise available, such as test equipment for gyroscopic instruments, portable calibrators for altimeters and air-speed indicators, moulds and dies of various types, and numerous other small items. In addition, Wigram carries out repairs to compasses, parachutes, and airscrews for other units in the South Island, and in many respects has been functioning as a depot. As already stated, No. 1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville, has been mainly concerned with the erection of aircraft. _ (f All instructions to units regarding technical matters are incorporated in the volume, New Zealand Technical Instructions," which has been issued with the object of ensuring that all technical regulations are readily available. The closest contact is maintained with the technical commands of the It.A.F. and the R.A.A.F., and a regular exchange of technical information takes place. The.main obstacle experienced during the year, from the maintenance point of view, has been the growing difficulty of obtaining spares from abroad for both airframes and engines. _ To meet this problem it has become more and more necessary to fall back on local manufacture, citation workshops have proved their ability to handle the manufacture and repair of the most complicated components, and, where necessary, engineer officers are granted authority to supervise the manufacture of parts made by local firms, thus relieving the heavily taxed facilities in station workshops. With the formation of the Production Branch, it is hoped that the possibilities in the Dominion for this type of work will be exploited to the full. Every endeavour has been made to keep maintenance at the highest possible level, and m spite of difficulties due to lack of spares, fee., a very high standard has been achieved. This is evidenced by the fact that the flying-training programme is up to schedule. R.N.Z.A.F. Band. The Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force £as played an important part in the air-crew-recruiting campaigns. It has also been of material assistance to Patriotic Funds. On two tours of the Dominion the band raised approximately £30,000 for Patriotic Funds. Throughout its tours the Band has been responsible for much favourable publicity for the Air Force. R.N.Z.A.F. Activities filmed. During the year the R.N.Z.A.F. co-operated with the Government Film Stlidios at the request of the War Publicity Committee in producing a special film depicting the various activities of the R.N.Z.A.F. This film aroused great interest throughout the Dominion, and was of material assistance in recruiting and in general publicity. Facilities were also provided for newsreel and documentary film production. Conclusion. The additional expansion programmes which have been undertaken during the year, combined with the difficulties of supply, have thrown a heavy burden on all sections of the Service and the civilian staff. Nevertheless, all undertakings have been carried out according to schedule, and an extremely high standard of efficiency has been maintained throughout. Great credit for the manner in which these responsibilities have been met is due to the ability, initiative, and energy of all concerned. The success of the air training programme in New Zealand is demonstrated by the manner in which New Zealand airmen have acquitted themselves in operations overseas. It is apparent that NewZealanders have a natural aptitude for flying, and their training here has enabled them to meet the high standards of the Royal Air Force.' I have, fee. H. W. L. Saunders, Air Commodore, Chief of the Air Staff.

2—H. 37.

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