1937-01-19 — Page 2

HONG KONG DALY PRESS, TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1937.

AVIATION

THIRTY-THREE YEARS OF FLYING

From A 12 H.P. 'Plane To A 3,000 H.P. Air-Liner

From their view-point to-day, Wright biplane would lift into the with intense activity prevailing in air only one man, its pilot. The all directions, and with long-dis- new Empire air iners carry a tance air routes about to be normal pay-load, including crew, adapted as A routine method of of between 31 to 4 tons. dispatch for malis at ordinary postal rates, those engaged in avia- tion will be pausing this month to send their congratulatioris to the

who man

was the Arst in the world to make a sustained, con- trolled fight in an engine-driven aeroplane.

It is just 33 years this month ⚫ since Orville Wright rose from a launching rail and flew for 12 se- conds, landing safely at the end of that brief, history-making aerial voyage without intury to himself or damage to his machine. As an epitome of just over three decades of aerial progress it is only necessary to contrast the first tiny 'plane of the Wright brothers with one of the new glant air-Uners which Imperial Airways are now putting into service on their Em- pire routes.

The machine Orville and his brother Wilbur, piloted. In the world's fist aeroplane flights on 17th December, 1903, was driven by an engine developing 12 horse- power. Its speed through the air was not more than 30 miles an hour. The new air-liners now coming into service on the Empire routes are driven by engines developing approximately 3,000 horse-power, and they are capable of a speed of just on 200 miles an hour.

The first Wright biplane, with its pilot, weighed a little under The new air-liners of 1.000 lb. Imperial Airways weigh. when fully-loaded, nearly 18 tons. The

As a final contrast to that tiny one-man 'plane with which aero- plane travel began thirty-three years ago there is the fact that the spacious interiors of our latest Iners of the air' provide smoking- room, promanade lounges, fully equipped kitchens, in addition to all their luxurious day accommoda- tion, comfortable sleeping-berths for passengers at night.

OFFICIAL

11

INSPECTION OF

KARACHI AIR-PORT

An official inspection of the Karachi air-port was made. re- cently by His Excellency the Gover- nor. His Excellency, after visiting the offices in the mooring-tower, went on to the Observatory, where the meteorologists on duty were presented to him.. His Excellency then made a complete inspection of the Customs. Postal, and Operat- ing Companies' facilities.

Next the Governor carried out an inspection of the Imperial Air- ways westbound air-liner 'Horea"; after which he visited the aero- drome control-room and the north and south hangars.

His Excellency then went over by car to the airship shed, which he inspected, together with the workshops of Imperial Airways. Finally His Excellency viewed the big new hanger.

E

Air Transport And Mining Developments In Africa

With important mining develop- ments in Africa co-inciding with a rapid progress in civil aviation, mining organisations throughout

Africa are becoming increasingly

alive to the assistance which aviat tion can render them in various directions. In all cases, for ex- ample, where air facilities exist mining executives now encourage their officials to fly when making journeys in their company's ser- vice.

In territories such as the Rand, the Kakamega, the Lupa gold- fields, the Katanga copper belt, and the Belgian Congo mining areas, the advantages to be derived from air transport are becoming more appreciated every day.

Geologists and starveyors, when studying the potentialities of new mining areas, not only fly by the regular air services, but make an increasing use of special-charter aircraft to take them to territories not at present covered by establish- ed air routes.

Specimens of ore are dispatched by air in order that they may be nasayed with the least possible delay. Excutives and high officials use the air services when a visits of inspection to the mines, The

existence of the Truperial Airways

England-South Africa

air-mall.

with Its two services weekly in each direction, proves an immense con- ventence when experts from the mines and it necessary to pay urgent visits to England for meet- ings or conferences. The air ser- vices are also proving of value in saving time when sections, of, min ing machinery are urgently reau-

ed.

The transport or geld by air. from mines in Africa to London. has shown an appreciable increase during recent times. Several weeks can be saved if bullion from mines in the interior of Africa is sent to London by air. Naturally con- signors have to pay for air speed, but this they are perfectly willing to do, remembering that the sooner gold is on the market the sooner it becomes interest-bearing

MOTOR JOTTINGS

A YEAR OF PROGRESS

IN CAR DESIGN

||

New Year Wishes And

Warnings For Motorists

from

getting cast-iron alloys which are better in resisting wear, leas prone to scoring, and do not dis- tort under pressure

the shoe. Drums themselves are larger and friction surfaces bave been increased. The self-edergis- trig shoe is gaining in popularity. In this system one shoe is per mitted a certain amount of travel so that when it touches the fast moving drum It tends to travel round with it. In moving It the pushes on the other shoe all the there are signs that

This means that, for a wearing of hats will be possible harder. when sitting in the back seat. I given pedal pressure, there is a The problem of getting into and greater braking effect. out of the car still remams. You know the sort of thing.

and

NIGHT EQUIPMENT ON BY AIR, RAIL, ROAD,

INDIA AIR ROUTE.

4,000 Miles Inspection

Flight

AND SEA

Air transpor, if its full value is to be enjoyed by the world, at

land.

+

nave peen focussed upon the pro- such co-operation is now the Recent inspections and reports large. needs to co-operate actively with other formis.of_travel; and Treas of the night-flying equipment on the India, Bir route. Lighting Keynote of developments in which installations for regular night-y-ir-liners are working in close con- ing have, it appears, now been function with transport by sea and practically completed at Allahabad, Gaya, Dum (Calcutta), Akyab, and Rangoon, although certain minor alterations and additions have still to be made: while lighting equip ment has still to be completed ar Campere, together with beacon lights at Etah. Moghal-Serai, and Asanol.

Combined air-and-sea passages. can now be booked at the offices of airways or steamship companies." In all parts of the world oceani transport organisationis ure co- operating with Imperial Airways in atr-and-sea facilities for the bene- fit of long-distance travellers. Complete round-the-world jour- neys can now be effected by a com- bination of air and surface trang- port

In order to be able to operate aerodrome lighting at short notice, new quarters are to be provided for operating staffs. Extensions of

Freight is being booked through the wireless and meteorological ar-

on combined journeys by air, ser. rangements are also in hand.”

New hangars have been erected and land. Railway companies are and Co-operating with air transport in at Allahabad, Dum-Dum. Akyab, and the next few months express forms of parcel traffic in are expected to see considerable which urgent consignments are developments in aerodrome equip carried by fast passenger trains on

ment. At Dura-Dum the new works include the erection of office buildings the completion of quar ters for the watch-keeping, stan, and a considerable extension of the wireless and meteorological

services.

all land sections of rail-and-air journeys.

Long-distance"

trips, during which tourists travel by air-liner. ocean-ilner, river steamer and ате becoming In- motor-car, creasingly popular. On a typical Recently an official of the Civil excursion of this kind passengers cross the Atlantic from New York Aviation Directorate of the Gov ernment of India made an airby steamer. Then they continue tour of approximately 4.000 miles by air to the big-game country of to inspect the general development Central Africa. Here they enjoy work In progress. During the motor-car excursions through the course of this tour he Inspected tame lands, returning to Cairo by. one of the Nile steamers, and Magaladon aerodrome in Burzla, and the new aerodrome site at reaching America again by a fur- Okkyn at Rangoon, and also disther combination of air and ocean cussed with various authorities travel. By such combined of air and ocean liners, and of trains,. the question of seaplane sites.

cars, and river craft, modern tra- vellers enjoy a wonderful, succes- sion of thrills. They watch splen- did panoramas from the decks of ners. They enjoy magnificent views of islands, sex, and coastal beauties from the saloons of big dying-boats. They look down on forests, déserts, and lakes from the windows of multi-engined land- planes. They penetrate the game- lands in motor-care. They make trips in luxurious trains. And they travel stage by stage with a speed and comfort which robs long-dis- tance touring of all its former tedium and fatigue,

LATEST NOTES AND

NEWS

The first pero show to be held in New York since 1930 is to be staged in the Grand Central Falace in January. Already many prospective exhibitors have re- served

space. It la calculated that 250,000 people will attend the show.

It is confirmed that the sum ellocated for improvements at the Mascot Aerodrome, Sydney, Aus- halla, amounts to £74,000. This will be expended 25 follows: new nerodrome buildings, £40,- fect of consultation with the

Treasury, 000: landing-ground improvements, £30,000; night-lighting equipment, £24,000

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS PROSPECTSs

From the review of the achieve- ments of the past year contained in Bir Eric's address, shareholders will gather an impression of rapid A fresh issue of capital to carry progress. The total volume of out developments in connection trafic, he showed, had doubled in with the Empire mall scheme and the past three years, and capacity Atlantic services was foreshadowed was being enlarged substantially to in Bir Eric Geddes's survey of the cater for growing demands on the activities of Imperial Air ways re- company's varied services. The cently. No details of the issue formation of a new operating com- have yet been settled, Sir Erte, ex-pany to develop a North Atlantic plained, pending the settlement of final terms of the company's new agreement with the Government, but the matter would be the sub-

service appears to hold out a pro- mise of intensive experiment in this fimportant field in the near futuro.

But whether the brakes are self-energising, mechanical, cable or rod operated. or actuated by hydraulic pressure and energised automatically, the fact remains arise is not for me to say. But I Loch Ness monster

A Guid New Year to all my rca- ders. May they never forget they are running 'on the reserve and find themselves stranded miles from the nearest garage. May

their the tyres retain

pressure for months on end and the pre- The lady passenger in the front sure gauge always tell the truth seat. turns herself into a contor Long may the treads keep their tionist to get her right hand hack Fattern and not behave as they to the lock on Eer left, then up come her knees until they are - usunily dor wear out.. suddenly

Just when you are feeling parti- almoet touching her chin, the left, cularly hard up, writes "Owner-leg ladies have these nowadays, Driver" in the "Bulletin,"

so I am not apologising) is gener- ally assisted by both hands to pull it up farther, the fancy shoe scrawls along the face of the door pillar, then out shoots one long silk-clad Umb, groping either the And here's hoping for the running board or that you will get the small petrol street. It is all so acrobatic, once ke consumption you dream about

undignified, but ever so interest that you are not gonged; that the Ing, But not for the lady. conchwork will. remain allent, more or less, that blotches will not bob up on the safety glass, that the sunshine roof will not leak and that you may be able to use it at least once next sum-

Here's to the good old cylinders. Long may they remain circular and defy the attacks of the flend orality whose visit at the end of the second years running 18 mt unwelcome.

mer

May the spanner never slip off the stubborn nut and cause you to leave skin on some metal part, may the rocker arm never stick, and may all the plugs have a sparking good time. And that's all I can think of in the way of good wishes for the moment. It you get them all you will be lucky. Here's hoping!

RETURNING TO BANITY The outstanding feature of the past twelve months has beez: the return to sanity on the part of the coachbuilders, private and otherwise. The so-called stream lining freaks have just about gone

Really, it is time something was. done about it, but as long as we prefer smart fooks to utility we chall get tumble-home roofs and

as a news

that by increasing the area of know the average owner and any provider: but he his apparently the friction misterial, improying manufacturer who thinks that he been crowded out this winter. "He the methods of adjustment, and will lubricate and adjust even has always been a alg 10-tonner giving us better material in the vital mechanism has another with ghostly headlights and fina druma our means of stopping are think coming to him.

been credited with a weakness for no longer a subject for tears and Apparently that is what nas dashing into the ditch" and dis- curses. I have had horrible come: he is again thinking out appearing, just when the spook dreams before now over brakes his problems. At the same time, investigator was about to drive and brake drums. I have seen I hold the view that mechanical straight into him. Well, we see i the inside of these circular dishes complications, especially on the many things sometimes-be care-

of metal presenting an appear steering systems, are undesirable, ful this Hogmanay,

the washerwoman's and until some one produces - Thoughts" of phantom lorry the simplined and foolproot system always come back to me at this scrubbing board-for all world like corrugated iron. Little of independent suspension the time of the year, because one wonder wo had to adjust every half elliptic spring will hold its night not far from Tpres I stood 500 miles and renew the linings own. D is doing that anyway. hard on the brake of my Triumph

very 6000.

One of the excuses for the over-and came andwful cropper on hanging of the engine is that it the greasy pave because I thought longer semi-elliptic I heard and saw a three-tonner permits

Drugs to be fitted. It would be right in front of me, a

Unlike the London-Birmingham interesting to learn whether these longer springs reach out as far as phantom, neither the lorry I the iron railings blanketing the thought I saw nor my own ma- radiator. These are sometimes chine had lights of any kind. nearly a foot in front and are You are wrong. I was perfectly. frequently ahead of the forward sober; but, the point of my story spring anchorage

is that the following night a des- match rider was killed by running into a genuine one. No one has been hurt by the English lorry. although I imagine some people have made money by telling a good story about it,

There has been one rather dis all that. And serve us, right appointing feature of the year And serve us right, Eut there is that is just going. Efforts to one thing we must praise. We keep the tyres on the road de really must thank those kind car pend on the solving of the sus manufacturers for giving us bet-pession problem and when a ter brakes. I don't mean that number of manufacturers adopted the brakes of 1938 or 1937 wilt Independent front-whee! springing pull up the car in fewer yards many of us-myself included than those of a few years ago, sort of whooped with joy, There is a definite minimum dis tance in which any car can be brought to rest from any speed, no matter whether the vehicle is light or heavy, t

LAZINESS RESPONSIBLE? I thing the excuses for this But all is not well. It is al- overbang fashion are like the most impossible to get at the boy's story, which was such an truth, but it appears to be a fact obvious warn-it was the best one that a number of makers are he could think of at the time. having trouble with their in- THE PHANTOM LOBRY NO TEARS AND CURSES

dependent suspension, designs, Returning to more New Yearish Brake improvements have been Every one of these new layouts subjects, I have been disappointed will not double themselves for you due largely to more suitable liave of necessity a number of over the failure of our old friend nor the tramcars suddenly leave retal being smed for brake drums mechanical joints and whether the phantom Jozry to turn up on the rails and hit you good and age owner the London to Birmingham road | hard, Be careful remember you Midsteel has been sacked and the laziness of the average not before time, Now we are is responsible for troubles that this year. He ranks with the are driving.

Anyway, I hope the trame lights

SANDEMAN

SHERRY & PORT

Obtainable everywhere.

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