Aviation News and Notes

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 2, 13 December 1930, Page 8

Aviation News and Notes

(By

“WING-TIPS”).

A Nation’s Civil Aviation is a Measure of its Commercial Efficiency. The Empire is Handicapped by Air Ignorance—Help Us Conquer It !

AIRSHIP DEVELOPMENT

STORY OF THE ZEPPELIN. Development of the rigid or Zeppelin type of airship dates back to Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, a German, who first conceived the idea of building a rigid ship while he was serving as a volunteer officer in the Union Army during the Civil War. There he had the opportunity of making ascensions in captive balloons at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota and later in Virginia. Later as a colonel of cavalry in the Franco-Prussian War, he saw free balloons blown over Paris during the seige of the French capital From that time on he spent most of his leisure studying and designing airships and in 1896 retired from the army to devote the rest of his life to this cause. He built his first ship in 1900 but it was not until 1910, after he had built and lost four ships, that his invention came to be accepted by the world. In the next four yeais Zeppelin ships carried 35,000 passengers without a single accident. The outbreak of the World War, however, prevented him from carrying out his great project of establishing airship travel across the Atlantic. Count Zeppelin died in 1917. The Zeppelin Corporation had grown by that time te one of the great companies of Germany and among its experts was Dr. Karl N. Arnstem, chief engineer and constructor of 70 airships. When the Zeppelin rights for North America were sold to an American company in 1924, Arnstein went to the United States as vicepresident and chief engineer of the Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation and his designs in the Navy competition of 1926 were given first award and on them was based the contract last October for building the two superdirigibles for the ILS. Navy. THE DESOUTTER. In the October issue of “The Aeroplane,” readers will find a photographic illustration of the Desoutter monoplane (D. H. Gipsy III. engine) Z.K.A.C.A.. taken just before this particular machine was forwarded on to New Zealand. It is of local interest to know that Z.K.A.C.A. is now hangared at Longlands Aerodrome. Mr. Ivan Kight, of Dannevirke, accompanied by Mr. Hamish Armstrong, of Akitio, as passenger, piloted this machine to Auckland last Saturday afternoon. The time taken on the journey was 2 hours 15 minutes. Longlands Aerodrome was left at 3.30 p.m. and Auckland was reached at 5.45 p.m. The return journey was commenced at 5.15 a.m. the following Sunday morning and Dannevirke was reached at 8.30 a.m., in plenty of time for breakfast. After a short stay in Dannevirke the journey was cotninued on to Hastings, arriving at the aerodrome about 10.45 a.m., taking 25 minutes for this last stage. A height of 8500 feet was reached between Auckland and Dannevirke, and Mr. Kight reported the visibility and general flying conditions excellent. Mr. Kight flew the machine during the previous Sunday as far north as Kaitaia, visiting the Bay of Islands on route, and returned to Hastings on the following day. Since Mr. Kight has had the machine in this district he has completed well over 20 hours of flying. The petrol consumption of the Gipsy III. engine (inverted) worked out at a little over five gallons an hour, and with a cruising speed of 100 miles an hour, this shows about 20 miles to the gallon. The oil consumption for the 20 hours of flying was exceedingly low and this speaks well for the efficiency of this particular type of engine. It is not generally known amongst the citizens of this go-ahead town that this machine is available for taxi work, and at a rate that compares very favourably with other modes of transport. Fares are based on a charge of a shilling a mile, road distances, less 10 per cent., so that two people could fly to Palmerston and back for £9. The railway journey costs £3 4/8 return for two passengers, and occupies 7 hours 38 minutes for the round trip, which is almost one complete working day spent in doing nothing. A saving of at least five hours is effected in travelling time alone. By rail such a journey would occupy two complete days, plus hotel expenses, so that travelling by air taxi is, if not cheaper, at least no more costly. If this is so on a short trip of 100 miles, what would be the saving on a journey, say, to Christchurch ? The big advantage of this form of travel is the tremendous saving of time. For instance, if one has business of importance to transact in Palmerston, one can leave at 9 a.m., arrive in Palmerston at 10.15, transact one’s business, lunch, and be back in Hastings any time in the afternoon, without any of the dirt, discomfort, or fatigue of a land journey. Smoking is even permitted in the Desoutter Coupe, the only stipulation being that wooden matches only be used. This service can be used to go to any part of New Zealand, and where protracted trips are contemplated special terms could doubtless be arranged with the local representative and pilot, Mr. I. Kight, who can always be reached via the aerodrome. » • » CLUB ACTIVITIES. During the last three weeks members of the H.B. and E.C. Aero Club have had little to complain about as regards the general weather conditions and the excellent state of the air, which has permitted the latest batch of trainees to get in all the flying time desired. This last week has seen three of the above go “solo” for the first time, and it is pleasing to report that they are showing great promise in the handling of their machines. The progress shown amongst these latest trainees reflects great credit upon the club’s instructor, Flying Officer W H Letts, who is ever ready to impart his knowledge for the benefit of those placed under his charge. Nothing seems to be a trouble to him and it is this attribute and his charming personality that is making him so popular amongst the active members. A NEW MACHINE. Last Sunday afternoon Flying Officer W. H. Letts journeyed by car and other means of ground transport to Taumarunui, there to take

delivery of the Avro-Avian Z.K.A.A.S. owned by two Taumarunui enthusiasts, and fly it to Hastings. It is the intention of the two owners to come to Hastings during the Christmas and New Year vacations, and take up an intensive course of training under our local club’s instructor in their own machine. Flying Officer Letts arrived back last Monday about 6.30 p.m. after a rather bad trip owing to low clouds causing bad visibility. For this reason he was forced to fly right down the ranges and cross through the Manawatu Gorge. DANNEVIRKE INSTRUCTION. On Wednesday last the instructor took a machine to Dannevirke, in order to give further instruction to enthusiasts there, and prepare them for their tests for “A” Licenses on the next visit of the Director of Air Services, Wing-Commander Grant Dalton, who is expected here about the 22nd for the purpose of testing aspirants, although nothing definite has as yet been arranged. Mr. George Nicholls, of Gisborne, took off, in his private Desoutter, on Wednesday last for Wellington, on a business trip, and is expected back on Friday. FLYING FIGURES. The flying activities for the week ending December 7th were as follow; Dual instruction, 9 hours 30 minutes ; solo flying, 7 hours 30 minutes; passenger flights, 5 hours; cross country, 1 hour 30 minutes. Total, 23 hours 30 minutes. The following persons took flights: Messrs F. Field, Ashman, McKinnley brothers, Powdrell, A. Timms, Miller, Powdrell, McLennan, Bevans, Hall, Taylor, Gibbs, Peach, Burnett, Craike, Lavery, Hawkes, Muke, Cleighton, Wilton, Gilmore, Maws, all of Napier; Mrs Timms, Waiupukurau. MR GARDEN’S VISIT. The visit of Mr Oscar Garden, the flying idols of New Zealand, make one reflect on the extraordinary development of aviation. Only 24 years ago, the first successful flight and landing was made in a heavier-than-air machine, and in that short space of time aviation has advanced to such stages that the general public hardly pause to look into the air when an aeroplane passes overhead. In September, 1909, Bleriot flew across the English Channel, and everybody marvelled at the intrepedity of the airman. To-day it is crossed numbers of times daily, in rain, fog or sunshine. If a ship can sail, an aeroplane to-day can take the air and land at its objective. Ten years after this world-start-ling feat of M. Bleriot, Messrs Alcock and Brown flew across the Atlantic, over 200 times the distance. And now so many people have flown from England to Australia, that our intrepid aviators, like Mr Oscar Garden, are seeking new fields to conquer, and finding that aviation is becoming so generally accepted all over the world that there are no more exploration flights to accomplish. Even the natives in the African bush no longer flee from an aeroplane, and all this has been accomplished in the remarkably short space of 25 years. Let us pause to reflect and take our hats off to the pioneers and others who have done so much to advance the science and cause of aviation. Mr Garden will, we hope, be present at Longlands aerodrome on Sunday afternoon. * • * GLIDER CLUB. Many adults have spoken to the founders of the club, stating then intention to join and intimating their approval of the objects of the club as set forth in the report of the inaugural meeting. Whilst these expressions of approval are greatly appreciated, we would very much like to hear more from the youths of the town and district with regard to becoming members, as it cannot be stressed too greatly that it is these young men we want, in order to prepare them for pilots’ licenses, it would be as well if those who have handed in their names as prospective members would bear in mind that funds must be gathered in before the glider can be completed. Too many have hinted that they will pay their subscriptions when the glider is ready to take the air. They must remember that material has to be bought; also it will cost them a further 2/6 entrance fee after December 20th. Anyone desiring to pay his subscription or an instalment may pay it to Mr. B. M. Kessell. Heretaunga street, who will hand it on to the treasurer. Arrangements are in hand and will be completed for a building in which to complete the construction of the glider. At a meeting of the executive held on Thursday evening, it was decided that Mr Cole should finish the woodwork at his home, so as to save rent. This decision was arrived at in view of the length of time, some four or five weeks, necessary to procure the fabric, which will have to be imported from Australia. Preliminary rules were drafted and passed and will be open for members’ inspection in a week or so. Much discussion arose when it was proposed to change the name of the club, but in view of its wider scope and the possibility of attracting country members, it was decided that the club be known in future as the Heretaunga Gliding Club. Upon completion of the glider, which will be some time in January, an extraordinary general meeting will be called, through these columns, in order to read to intending flying members the rules drawn up by the executive governing the procedure on the field and also to give members a short talk on the rudiments of flying and use of controls. NAPIER MATTERS. Reading the flying activities for the week, it will be remarked that a very small number of people took advantage of the club’s machine in Napier on Sunday last. This was due to the fact that Messrs Buckeridge and Raine decided to make Napier their base for joy rides on that same day and unfortunately chose a paddock on the route to the field being used by the club’s pilots, thereby stopping a considerable number of possible passengers arriving at the

field to which they intended to go. It is to be, hoped that these two gentlemen will not commit another such breach of etiquette whilst making use of the club’s flying field and service.

(Continued on foot next column).