1936-06-02 — Page 2

Page

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1936.

AVIATION

AIR TAXIS INTO THE

CITY OF LONDON

Report's Striking Prophecy

London May 13. Air taxis to take to the centre of London passengers who have arrived at London airports, ure forecast in a report prepared for the Essex County Council on Air Planning in Essex," and published by the Council at

10% od..

The report, by Messrs. Norman and Dawburn, presents "a striking picture of the near future-the county studded with aerodromes of different classes, air ports, flying zones, and radio stations.

There is litle doubt.". It says, "that in later years a type of alr vehicle will be devised probably with moving wings, capable of car- Into the centre rying passengers

of Londen, Such craft, will, no doubt, be largely used as taxis to reach the main airports where it set aside

will not be dimeuit to

oreas where they may

land and

take off. The possibility must not be ignored in the case of marine airports."

Fairlop Plain. near Ilford, as the largest form of Class 1 air- port and as a major terminal for the City of London. The City Corporation have just decided to

At construct an airport there cost of £600,000.

PLAN FOR WHOLE FLEET OF HINDENBURGS

TO START ROUND-THE- WORLD AIR SERVICE

the

in

A WEEK OF BRITISH FLYING NEWS

"Use of amphibious flying-boats the Navy is to be extended

ADVENTURES IN CHINA

RECENT BOOK OF REMINISCENCES

Up and Down the China Coast By Ranger." (Denis Archer. 18s.)

Air Commodore L. E, O. Charlton, who contributes a foreword to this exciting volume of reminiscences,

And so

For more than a year an am phibious machine, fitted with land- New York.

ing wheels which can be wound Plans are being pushed forward

up or let down on either side of for a great round-the-world air- | the hull, has formed part of the describes it as a "document or ship service as the result of armament of the battleship Nel-human nature in the raw." Hindenburg's record fight from son." and a number of similar it is. We first meet "Ranger” as a Friedrichshafen to Lukehurst, craft are under construction for young officer in the R.A.F. He has New Jersey.

the Fleet Air Arin, here they will comments to make on Service fe Discussions now starting between repiace obsolescent types of air-in Egypt that one hopes are ex- German and American interests craft now in service in catapult may result in a big fleet of air-

They will be equipped warships. thips, some of them as large as

the first boat-hulled marine air- the Hindenburg. being rapidly,

craft since the War to go into Germany In

and

service with the Navy. which has constructed America in the near future.

employed only float seaplanes and Dr. Eckener has disclosed or the landplanes. д

rst time that he won President

the Experts point a joint

ta Roosevelt's support for

with amphibian, transport German-American plan at a private conference last better suited for alighting on, and taking off from. rough water than the floatplane. Important advan- tages accrue from the amphibious gear. East of communication be tween sea and shore is augmented; several times the Commander-in-

Next in importance Southend. where provision should be made for the extension of the present municipal airport site to Class 1 dimensions.

Squthend and Colchester to de rellef airports to Fairlop. Class 1 airport for Colchester, to serve North-East Essex. to be planned upon the Berechurch site. Final relief airports at Chelmsford and Bishop's Stortford.

For marine aircraft. Class 1 airports at Gravesend Reach. in the Thames and, as at present approved. at the port of Harwich, in the waters of the Stour and Orwell.

It is thought probable that mov- Ing wing aircraft, as typified by the autogiro. will become capable inside the of landing actually the built-up areas of towns. Opera- tion to such small landing points

With regard to decontrolled trame. would. no doubt, for long be con-

control fined to strictly licensed pilots, but space between the local

areas should be available in all It might lead to an enormous" de velopment of short distance flying.weather for the circulation of air

In country districts. such air- craft might be expected to land close to the houses of their owners, The need would always exist, how- ever, for aerodromes accommodat- Ing repair and fuelling stations, garages. sales depots, and instruc- tional establishments.

AIRPORT SUGGESTIONS With regard to controlled trame. the report makes the following recommendations:

traffic. Sufficient space should be left to allow free circulation of such traffic between all the main centres of population and the recreational districts.

The future main lines of traffic from the east. It is suggested, should be two, one to follow the Lea valley and the other the general line of the Thames. These lines could be planned to avoid the Fairlop local control area.

THE STREAMLINING

PROBLEM

Difficulties Not Yet Overcome

There are many of us who have been hoping that out of all the ex- periments now going on, cxperim ents visible in those still strange looking cars which, in regard to public taste, are in the trial and error process on the road, the true streamlined car will emerge. It did seem that we were well on the way to the desired end, but now we are told frankly, indeed with some bluntness, that we have a long time tr wait, for all that is being done is fundamentally wrong. This on the authority of one of the best- known engineers in the British motor industry, a ploneer who him- self has put more than one bold ex- periment on the market, and with success. His authority, therefore. is considerable, and he declares that true streamlining is not possible until we have the engine at the rear of the car, Given that, then designers, engineers, coachbuilders well be able to produce the real thing.

The doctrine is not wholly new, and the history of the motor in- dustry in this country can show more than one experiment with a rear-engined" car, Of these the most striking was the Barney, and some few years ago the little Trojan appeared at the Olympia Show, if memory is not at fault, with its en- gine housed at the rear. The prob

again according

lem,

i

autumn.

air

But the President indicated that he would like the feasibility of a nir service regular trans-ocean. tested before the plan was deve loped..

15

that out

hull. bool

aggerated,

We next and our adventurer in Malaya, where he had obtained a post as assistant on a rubber estate. He gets tired of Malaya, whose rub- ber industry is "badly conducted." and after a finalrow with his chief. is on a P. & O, vessel bound for China. From there he moves on to Manchuria to sell-insurance,

Ten trips planned for the Hin-Chief of the Home Fleet, nying 10 only in order to rescue them, Still,

denburg to America are for this purpose, and to restore public fakth in airship travel.

RESTORING PUBLIC FAITH

be

The round-the-world alr ven- ture, according to the plans under discussion between German and American financiers, would supported by a substantial United States mall subsidy and a Bill to enlist American support through subsidies has already been drawn up for introduction in the House

of Representatives and the Senate.

Chances of success are enhanced by the report that one of America's biggest aeroplane transport com- panies is supporting the scheme.

Suggested sites for Class 2 and 3 air ports within 20 miles from Lon- Waltham Abbey, Brox- don, are

By this time he appears to have mellowed a little and has a great deal to say that is provocative. If not Instructive, about Japanese aggression. It is difficult, however, to believe that the Japanese went. to the extent of kidnapping people the "Nelson's" amphibian has been Ranger" must be acknowledged to able to visit the Admiralty from

have written a racy book, packed the English Channel or elsewhere with amusing character sketches in quick time, landing near London

the reader will not readily forget at Hendon aerodrome.

"Princess" Naetle, the "high-step- The type of amphibian howper"-and. genuinely outspoken, building for the. Fleet Air Arm 's the Supermarine Walrus. a single-ordered engined boat biplane powered with Ta Bristol Pegasus radial motor mounted to drive a "pusher' air- screw behind the main planes. Th addition to the Fleet Air Arin order. the Australian government has placed contracts for Walruses and delivery is now proceeding of the first batch of 24 of these craft

bourne, Stapleford and Erith, The possibility of the use of Fairlop. If fully developed, for airship travel cannot be ignored,

MOTOR

ter Commonwealth de- fence.

Extremely severe official trials were imposed on the first Walrus.

I went with the aircraft carrier "Courageous" to take part in the Navy's strenuous Mediterranean spring cruise. It was thoroughly kind of Servica tested in every operation from land and Water. It was the first flying-boat in the world to be launched by catapult. and passed successfully through the official catapult trials at the Aircraft Establishment, Roya!

Farnborough.

JOTTINGS

roof the arms and the hinges of EASIER & SAFER THE BLIND EYE

which did not rattle either in wind or on a rough road surface, and one that can be opened or closed with ease; and that of providing wind- ing glass windows in place of the detachable celluloid affairs a car, in effect, that when closed is a salobn, and is neat when open.

MOTORING

Two-Pedal Control Nearly Ready

JI

CLUTCH OR READY

LEVER

IMPROVED VISIBILITY FROM THE DRIVING SEAT NEEDED

Unobstructed visibilty for the driver-that is one of

the most valuable safety features in car de- sign. But what of 1938 cars as a whole? It is not unfair that the view from the BY A. G. THROSSELL The motor-car of the future win seat of certain models is not so

good as it should be. be controlled by two pedals only, venient in traffic, and when turn-

customed to them. The fact that they are on the road in private ownership is some evidence that the British motorist is not averse from trying a thing because its new. Nor is the American motorist. Progress has gone a long way. Indeed, it would appear that there There are now hoods that can be NO is an interesting, almost humorous, used in three positions; hoods that"

can be wound open or closed with interplay of ideas and practice be- tween the American and the British | handle-operated mechanist; hoods Slightly to ex-that can be opened or closed while manufacturers. aggerate what happens, the Ameri- the car is in motion. In these can makers send ever here some types the side windows, of glass, accelerator and brake. thing new and rather florid in the can be used. whether the hood is way of body design. British firms raised or lowered. The one pro-plification, for which note this and its influence finds its blem that remains difficult to solve have long been striving, is near- way into their products. The satisfactorily is that of winding completion.

Recently I drove a car with no can no protection for the rear passengers American makers, who

when the hood is folded. A screen clutch pedal. Before long I hope we longer afford to neglect what are, doing, take these products and attached to the rear of the front to drive a car with neither clutch

seats, and that winds down, is one i pedal nor gear-lever. work their influence into their new

The revolutionary device whicn That in turn is felt in attempt, but as most front seats to- designs, British design, and yet again the day are of the independent bucket type this screen does not wholly serve the purpose. There are also minor

factories in the United States re- flect what is being done here.

disadvantages, connected with the folding bood; one is that after use in the wet it has to be kept open to dry when weather conditions ask that it should be folded. away. That, however, is a email matter; it was no great

This sim-

to Bay driving

It is con-

ways, for instance, to be able to see the wings but not essential. What "is" essential is that there Should be the smallest possible obstruction to a clear view of the road ahead or to the sides. Part:- cular offenders in the latter re- spect are thick windscreen pillars. which may obscure even" a vehicle

inventorsing into particularly narrow gate-

gives this result is a form of hydrau-!

su large as a bus it it approaches le transmission of power on which the inventor has been working for

stin certain angle. Rear-view Alx years. All gear-changing is

outside mirrors attached' to the abolished as far as the driver can, windscreen pillar itself may also tell, there is no gear-box at all create a large blind spot. There but acceleration is just as rapid are cars the bonnet une of which as with a good gear-box skilfully is too high for the convenience of very short drivers. Th's may handled.

Yet there is progress, although the the engine is still retained at front of the car, We are on the way to less florid design and to a read carriage-a word appropriated by the makers of luxury cars in the

The British rights of this inven-mean that the road itself is in- early days of the industry to describe their products of restrain-affair in days when there were more tion, which is French, have been visible close to the car, so that a hoods than saloon bodies; and. acquired by a well-known arm of ed form and decoration,

CONVERTIBLE COACHWORK after all, a folding hood, demands car manufacturers which has al- og might run off the pavement

less attention than a highly finish-ways been in the forefront Progress in streamline body

R.C. mechanical, development, and has

interesting

In recent years introduced several improvements, since generally

design is also taking another and ed, polished saloon body. ta

the

En

unusually

form

of

and never be seen.

Faulty, visibility for the driver

showroom, but on the demonstra- may not be easy to discover in the

tion run it becomes clearly sp- parent. Look out for this point! NEXT YEAR'S MODELS --

I is, of course, only fair to manu-" Experimental work with the new facturers to point out that it is now in progress, not by any means as easy as it transmission is and the head of the firm, with seems to cut out all obstructions to enthusiastic. the driver's vision. but those whom I spoke was gear I gather that his next year's factories which have gone to great models will all be of the "two pains in this respect well deserve pedal" type.

the harvest they reap in creating

from

The car I drove for a short a most valuable selling, point. The to test

in London trafic

was Minister of Transport is interested

authority already quoted, still pre- More than ever the motoring public"

was automatically withdrawn, so sents many practical, dificulties, which will long keep engineers is demanding something other than that the gear lever could be moved adopted. busy. We have, therefore, a long; the saloon, with or without the into any notch, and on touch of time to wait for the true streamlin-sliding top known as the sun roof. the accelerator the clutch was ed car, that ideal car which shall The open car, which a few years automatically let in and the car ago almost disappeared before the

moved on. be of fine yet modest lines, shall be roomy and airy, and shall be as popularity of the saloon, and could be bought only at a higher price good a road carriage as it is a.

than the closed car, is coming back, machine

with modifications. The demand is for convertible coachwork, and in many forms we are getting cars at-

BRITISH AND AMERICAN DESIGN

A touch of the gear-lever knob released the clutch for changes as needed, or enabled the car to tree-wheel

This device, which costs in appearance which in 216 10s upwards, according At the same time, the present ex-tractive periment in body form are not to use are, as never before, all-weather engine size, can be fitted to any atted with an automatic clutch in such safety points, and is con- cars. Here again it has been a car, and is widely used now for control operated by oll pressure suiting the motor trade; progress has been made, but much pre- liminary work is involved.

be despised. Some of them are strange, but, in part at least, that is because we have not grown sc-

question of overcoming difficulties, commercial work where constant With the engine idling, the clutch such as that of providing a folding gear-changing is demanded.

(Continued on Previous Col)

THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING COMPANY OF HONGKONG, LIMITED.

BUILDERS OF ALL CLASSES OF SHIPS.

BUILDERS OF RECIPROCATING STEAM ENGINES. BUILDERS OF MARINE AND LAND BOILERS. BUILDERS OF TURBINE MACHINERY

Under License From Messrs Parsons. BUILDERS OF DIESEL ENGINES

Winterthur.

Under Special License

From Messrs. Sulzer Bros., Licensed To Manufacture Lanz Perlit Iron. Specially Suitable For Internal Combustion Engine Working Parts.

DOCK & SLIPWAYS.

FOR DUCKING VERY LARGE, AS WELL AS SMALLER VESSELS,

!

ON ANY TIDE

ALL CLASSES OF SHIP, ENGINE AND BOLLER

REPAIRS AND EXTENSIVE WELDING, BOTH ELECTRICAL AND OXY- ACETYLENE SKILFULLY AND PROMPTLY CARRIED OUT.

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents,

HONG KONG, CHINA & JAPAN.

THE ADDRESA: "TAOODCE," HONO KONO. TELEPHONE: 30211,

CALL FLAG: "YUMERAE ONE "OVER " PENNANT ANS."

So much that is beautiful and romantic awaits yon in Austria: Vienna-the world's music centre; Salzburg the festival city; the Styrian woodlands; the beautiful Danube valley; the lakes of Salzkam sergat and Carinthia; the Tyrol and Vorarlberg- lants of picturesque peasants and snow capped wwuntains; and the lovely landscapes of Lower and Upper Austria. Both for Summer Holiday (Golf, Tennis, Swimming, Climbing, etc.) and for Wlazer Sports, Austria has become more popular than ever. Come to Austria at any time" of the year-you may be ware of a kindly welcome,

Come to Beautiful Romantic Austria

Considerable fara reductions new mailable. Accomm (= desión can be obtained from 616 a day. Travel with Austrian Traveller?” Chaquet-for convenies. Wris for special sommer or winter programmes of inclusiva "arrangements to the heading tourist paties, or AUSTRIAN STATE TRAVEL BUREAU,159 y. Regmi Straat, London, 1, England.

USE OUR SPECIAL

AEROMAIL

LETTER PAPER & ENVELOPE

AND

PAY LESS ON POSTAGE

Letter Paper Envelopes

$1.50 per 100 Sheets

1

$1.75 per 100

ON SALE AT:

HONGKONG DAILY

11, Ice House Street,

PRESS Telephone 30251.