1936-12-29 — Page 2

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1

THE WORLD OF WINGS

Air Notes And News From

All Quarters

Figures dealing with civil avia- tion in the United States have become available up to 1st July, 1938. On that date were 2:402 air- porta and landing-helds in the United States, and 7,403 licensed and 1,764 unlicensed aircraft. Out of a total of 18.204 pilots licensed, to fly. 1.162 were transport pilots, It is proposed to add many new

whille

meteorological stations along the United States air routes; additional high-altitude observing stations are also contemplated.

Figures which have just been made public show that at the end of 1935 there were 368 aeroplane landing-grounds in Australia. there including Government and em- ergency grounds as well as public aerodromes. The number of pilots In Australia, private and commer cial, reached a total of 892.

During 1935 Canadian Airways Limited flew 674.018 miles and carried 14,540 passengers. In 1935 -as compared with the previous year-the volume of 'mall-matter increased by over 10 per cent.

ROUND THE WORLD BY AIR

Forecasts published in Hong Kong as to the development of that city as an important air-port on the flying routes of the world picture the day as not far distant when it will be possible for a pas- senger starting from Hong Kong to Take a complete air circuit of the globe.

The air journey from Hong Kong to London is estimated to take 5 daya. Then from London scross to New York the time occupied would be 2 days; after which a period of 8 days is allowed for the crossing-of America to San Fran- cisco, and the ocean voyage from San Francisco back to Hong Kong.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1936.

AVIATION

CIVIL AVIATION

IN CANADA

The Romance Of

"AIR SHOPPING" LUXURY

Food, "Flowers, And Fashion: By Flying Mail

For the convenience of house-

Air-Borne Freight wives, the American Railway Ex-

the

It was not long ago that the little far-northern township of Alavi, on the mouth of Mackenzie River, received its mails once a year. Now, thanks to the development of civil aviation in once every Canada, it is visited three weeks by mailplanes which, after they hate delivered their letters, return with bales of fur.

The value, or the aeroplane 'in developing the resources of Canada was proved not long ag by the opening-up of a mine which was situated 400 miles from the nearest rail-head. A few year ago this particular area had hardly been prospected; but now the mine is in full production, supplies and other necessities being carried to

it by air,

It is estimated that during a recent period of 12 months not far short of 20.000 prospectors, all of them engaged in exploring hitherto untapped territory were complete with all their necessary kit-carried out on their surveys by Canadian ueroplanes.

An idea of the Importance of air freight transport in Canada may be gained from the fact that re- centay an order was placed for the carriage by aeroplane from Gold Pines to

con-

press Agency, operation in Junction with the internal air-lnes of the United States, has organised rapid air-und-rait service which is called 'air shopping.

Within a few hours of a tele-

phone order, exotic foods and dowers, and last-minute fashions, can be delivered at one's door in any of the 200 chief cities through- out the United Statca,

OF BRITAIN'S NEW FLYING-BOATS

A Flight In The "Centaurus"

Fears that no air journey extending over six or even days and nights, as envisaged in the scheme of accelerated Empire air transport, might impose too severe a strain upon the stamina of the traveller are dispersed by one flight in the aeroplanes in which those journeys will be made. The new big flying boats, twenty-eight of which are being built by the Short company for the Empire routes of Imperial Airways, have exceeded most man- ruins expectations in performance and economy. They are equal- ly notable for comfort, These are dying machines in which the Irallest need not fear to travel

we

throttle down the port engines as the “Centaurna" followed the bend lengthened the take-off, but were airborne in 29 seconds. Full- load trials with a straight run and a wind of not more than ten miles

It is calculated that within less than 24 hours, by air express and The absence of noke and vibra- rall, the following ingredients for tion is Immediately remarked. an elaborate dinner could be got Standing in an amidships cabin I together-Florida guavaa, or gumbo talked well-nigh in whispers with from New Orleans; stone crabs a fellow-passenger, and neither -f¦ from Birini or rock lobsters from us missed a word. Conversation Miami, turtle steaks or Virginia from one, saloon to another was

an hour have established the take- baked ham; hearts of palm salad conducted without raising the off time of the boats às 15 seconds; from Florida; candied fruita from voice. Olasses on the table show- when carrying no less than 5,000 the same State: brandled peaches ed practically no tendency to lb. more than normal maximum from the South and rare coffee: "Jazz,” proving that vibration had load the take-off in similar con- Bown from the heights of Central, been almost entirely eliminated. ditions is extended only to 24

Headroom is more than sufficient | seconds.

Américs.

AERODROMES IN MALAYA

for a circus glant, extending up to } In half an hour we flew a cur- nine feet in the aft saloon. There cult of 80 miles, going up the east is plenty of room to walk about; coast as far as Felixstowe and in the promenade saloon is a big cruising above much of Kent and open space and a rail beside the Essex. With the · trafing-edge windows at which half a dozen of flap about half way down the watch the swiftly great craft, approaching perforce Now aerodromes landing-grounds stood to

below us as we from the most awkward direction are to be built in Malaya. An aero- changing scene

Forward is cosy smoking because of the contrary · wind. drome site has been recommended dew.

saloon. Above, on the upper deck, | dropped steeply over Rochester by experts at Malacca. It has been decided to lengthen the Kuala

ore the crew's quarters and the Bridge to touch water so sweetly Lumpur aerodrome.

main mail A big aero-

compartment with that passengers who were sitting with their backs to the windows drome is being constructed at Port capacity for more than two tona.

Below. the passengers live in were Swettenham, This aerodrome haa

unsware of the contact. had to be built on swampy ground comfort far superior to that pro- Others who were reclining in the -a fact which has presented manyvided on the world's most luxurious sleeping berths did not know that trains and equal to first-class the fight was over till the craft had the engineers. Special "cambered ' runways

steamship accommodation. The lost way on the water, which it did being provided.

Plans are

sixteen beds which at night take in less than 300 yards from the- being drawn up for internal ser-

the place of the adjustable arm-point of first contact, and was chair seats, are wide, comfortable.rocking slightly in the current: vices throughout Malaya.

and amply long. Beside each bed Only when the flight was over did is a compartment for trinkets, a passengers learn that each of the book on which to hang a watch, a two port engines had been

Casummit Lake of ap proximately 500 tons of freight, One of the big cargo-planes em- ployed-known as 'the flying box car-can carry a freight-load of from 2 to 21 tons. Large consign-problems ❘ments can be transported in the bigger types of cargo-plane-guch for example as ore buckets and machine units in crates.

for

are also

During a period of approximately one month. recently, in aeroplane. freight operations in the mid-west mining area, loads totalling over far exceeding any previous total hook on which to hang a watch, throttled right down, at periods ⚫000,000 1b, were alrborne-a figure for a similar period,

MOTOR

JOTTINGS

DRIVING AT NIGHT

How To Light The Road And

A

Resist Dazzle

BJ

reading-lamp. an adjustable during the light to demonstrate ventilator, and a press button to that flying him was unaffected. summor the steward. The bed-The hum of the engines is subdued clothes are secured by a clever so much by the astonishingly arrangement of straps and hooks fierent sound-proofing that a which are also designed to keep further diminution by one-quarter the passenger from slipping off the | passet entirely unnoticed. bed, though the boat rides so smoothly even in stormy weather that this subsidiary duty will rarely devolve upon them.

incidentally, if within the limits of operational possibility there is a more tricky stretch of water for the ascent and descent of large

dash cubby hole and used as cir- cumstances dictate. These dusters should also be applied before night My flight was made in "Cen- dying-boats than the Medway at drives to the front side windows 80 | táurus,” third of the feet to take Rochester, I should like to see it. as to ensure the maximum width the air, just before it left Roches- The available area' of water is just. of vision in traffic emergencies. ter last week to begin regular work adequate, configuration of the Impecunious owners of elderly in the Mediterranean. The wea- country around makes for bumpy cars can do much by the use of ther was bad, with rain, low cloud, air, and the course, of the river such simple aids àg old newspapers and turbulent air. Yet at no follows interesting bends. The (an excellent glass-cleaning ma- moment of the fight was there terial) or a cut apple or potato, even slightly unpleasant move- both of which have some effect ment; "Centaurus." cruising on 60 in filming raindrops on glass and per cent. of full engine power at eliminating "spotting." for rain- 165/170 m.ph.. was a steady as a spots act as multiple distorting rock. lenses.

"་རྫུན

busy twin towns of Rochester and Chatham sprawl over each bank and the bridge linking them cuts neatly across an avenue of landing approach which must frequently be used. Dominion critics who QUICK TAKE-OFF"

fear that stretches of water pro The big boat, with its four visionally approved by Imperial Pegasus engines firing smoothly. Airways experts are not suitable moved up the Medway. Near ona should come and look at Rochester of the bends in the river the They will admire the all of the throttles. were opened, and, run-short test pilota and will realize ning across wind, the craft ac- that the company's designers are celerated for the take-off Need to obliged to build boats that are un

rivalled in the world for ease and rapidity of take-off and alighting!

Many motorists have a great, wildly expensive remedy. They dislike of night driving, which should replace the headlamps with a pair of first-class British lamps attains its minimum level whilst travelling in their home area dur- such as are supplied with last ing fair, weather, and reaches its sporting cara. The sidelamps can maximum when covering Uni usually be retained, but rendered familiar roads in rain. This dis- more efficient by inserting a pair

PROBLEM OF DAZZLE like can be mitigated by analysing of more powerful bulbs. Powerful The precautions already cited Its causes and taking any possible sidelamps are not really desirable, ensure maximum visibility so far steps to cope with the disagree- as they can inflict, a substantistas lamps and glass are concerned. able cléments, writes a correspon-

amount of dazzle, and I personally | Dazzle is the next nuisance to be dent in the "Manchester Guar would prefer to adjust the near-considered. We live in hopes that dian"

side headlamp in its non-dazzle | some application of polarised light position so that it throws a broad may yet end our dazzle troubles, beam of light tolerably well ahead but that day is not yet. Neither to the left front; this adjustment can we take any satisfactory steps will dazzle no traffic on the car to cope with that confusion of rlageway, and will serve to reveal vision which is due to bad street clearly obstructions near the kerb lighting, advertising signe, shop or persons stepping thoughtlessly and cinema lights, and the like. For fog there is at present no and recklessly off the sidewalk.

The second essential is to secure maximum visibility through the various glazed surfaces of a car. The wind-screen should be equip

Night fear is due to inferior vision, which enhances the risk of accident, and so exaggerates our continual anxiety lest we should únwlitingly injure or kill some body. If a driver is so shortsight ed that his vision is inadequate for safety under the handicaps of darkness and dazzle, he should impose a self-denying ordinance,

HEADLAMPS

she can often say "You are six feet out from the kerb!" or "There is

an unlit bicycle (or händeart) THE NEW AIR-PORT AT twenty yards ahead!"

SINGAPORE

Twu golden maxims are essential-remedy and no really efficient pal- It is hoped that Singapore's. namely, to stop whenever one can- liative. I mount two fog-lampa: not guarantee that the space of one throws a short-range heavily new air-port at Kallang will be and abandon all night driving un-

road just ahead is clear, and to set dused light down on the road ready for opening at the time of der any circumstances whatever.

the near-side lamp so that it surface a few feat ahead of the the Coronation in May next. The The Government specification of ped with a double wiper, set 80 throws rational illumination to the car, and permits safe progress at latent reports show that the steel safe driving vision is sound enough | that both blades actually scour the | left front (as delivered the a crawl in any but the heaviest frames of the two double hangars," for daylight, but is probably too surface. If we examine parked near-side headlamps of mest ears mist; the other directs a longer measuring 300 feet by 150 feet, generous for night work, and care at random we shall find that are dipped too steeply and are and thinner beam of coloured have been holsted into position. number of licensed drivers would very few wipers are properly ad- swung too far to the left). To "fog-piercing" light to my left These hangars will have concrete be well advised to eschew night fuated; in fact, most cheap wipers guard against bewilderment due front. They are jointly better block wala. work. But where night fear is not

The administrative and other are so dimsily constructed that to dazzle by some drivers wear than any other apparatus which inspired by poor eyesight, but is they need attention every week smoked spectacles traffic: I have tried, but, frankly, even buildings will contain a post- simply due to nervousness, various Such wipers should be scrapped others wear a peaked cap and dip with them in action I feel helpless office. restaurant and bar, mete- palliatives are possible and should and replaced by a device possess the chin slightly on sustaining and bewildered in any dense mist wological and immigration offices, be vigorously employed.

waiting room for ed of ample power, and so design- dazzle: others at a small hinged after dark. The sole prescription à luxurious ed that it does not with or bend panel of green or blue glass to the for fog is to garage the car at the passengers and a mess-room and after two or three hours on duty windscreen, and hook it into the frst opportunity and to proceed to bedrooms for pilots The blade should have several vision line whenever they are pue's destination by some other Work is going ahead quickly on laminated rubbers. But even the blinite It is possible to buy form of transport, at least we the seaplane slipway and hangar attting of a decently made and glasses which are heavily colour- have the consolation that even where the new Empire nying- inefficient. Their designed wiper is not adequate ed in the upper hemisphere of the single-track rahway train with boats will anchor and receive headlamps do not furnish enough provision for the windscreen. It each lens and lightly coloured over its elaborate signalling system is overhauls. The levelling of the light for normal touring speeds. should be thoroughly cleansed the lower half these are recom- almost as helpless as a motorist. malu landing area is more or less and when the headlamps are ex- over all its surface by hand he- mended to drivers specially senst Within a few years it may be the complete, while thousands of tinguished in urban areas the il- fore every night drive. Even dry- tive to dazzle. A sensible com- the adoption by sodium street Alling are now being laid dally on lumination of the delamps utter-weather usage covers it with anim panion on the front seat can be lighting, coupled with polarised the reclaimed area between the ly fails to cope with that chiaro, of dust which impairs and distorts a great help. We should not be ass for windscreens and lamp: Geylang River and Tanfong Rbu. scuro of dazzle and Blotchy dark vision. Patent dusters are sold too proud to welcome such sasia- fronts, may eliminate all, these dis- It has been suggested that the ness which disfigures too fáby, which minimise the effects of rain tance, since the near-alde occup- agreeables except fog. Meanwhile new airport, which will be one of urban: thoroughfares. Owners of and mist on the unswept areas of any sustains far less dazzle than the methods advised will do some the nest in the world, should be such car, when they suffer from the screen, and such a duster the driver, being seated at a wider thing to minimise the undoubted known as "the King Edward VIII night fear, have a simple and hot should always be carried in the angle to on-coming lampe. He or difficulties of night work.

aerodrome.

First and foremost, the innocent motorist should realise that the lamps of many cars (and espe. cially of certain imported cara) are definitely

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