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Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0278.PDF
APRIL 22, 1926 (late R.A.F.), L. J. Brain, A. N. Rvans ; Aerodrome Staff: five enginemen and riggers, two woodworker carpenters, and three improvers. The company's machines up till January 31, 1926, had flown a distance of 322,123 miles, this record mileage being attained without any injury to staff or clients of the company. . The following figures show the first three years' work :— 1st year's 2nd year's 3rd year's Contract. Contract. Contract. Mail route passengers . . 156 283 486 Taxi „ ..22 96 160 Joy Ride „ . . 30 234 260 208 613 906 Parcels :— Number . . . . 82 345 639 Weight .. .. 264^ lbs. 1,597 lbs. 4,684 lbs. Letters 12,895 11,689 17,496 Scheduled trips completed 99 -51% 100% 100% \ The above comparison of operations will show how the p assenger traffic is steadily growing as people have more confidence in aerial travel and realise the advantages which can be gained by the saving of their time. " QUANTAS " : Sketch map showing the districts served. Some of the savings in time effected by passengers, freights or letters conveyed over the air route are remarkable, and in almost every case at least 24 hours is saved. A passenger, for instance, travelling from Charleville to Longreach, does the journey by rail in 5-J days at a cost of £\\ 10s. By air this same trip is accomplished in 4 hours at a cost of £8 105. A passenger between Longreach and Cloncurry by car and rail does the trip in 3 days at a cost of just over £7. The aerial traveller does the journey in 4-J hours at a cost of £10. Two days are saved by the traveller by air between Cloncurry and the southern cities, and the saving in time between the Camooweal districts and Sydney is 7 days. This great saving in time from the Far West is expected to have some bearing on opening the sparsely populated Barely Tablelands, as business men will now be able to make a visit and return to their city offices within a reasonable time and without fear of being held up through road conditions. As regards taxi work, machines are available in Longreach, Cloncurry and Charleville to carry out special trips to any part of Queensland which can be reached over routes which •offer safe landing facilities. Stations and towns in the west are beginning to make general use of the aeroplane and the increased number of passengers carried during the last year shows that aerial taxi work is likely to grow into a large and useful service to the community. Western Queensland particularly lends itself to exploitation by the aeroplane during the time following rains when theblack soil plains are impassable for wheeled vehicles and unbridged creeks and rivers are running bankers. Manytimes each year country residents of the west find themselves cut off from personal communication with the outside worldexcept by aeroplane. People have been slow in taking to the aeroplane as aregular means of conveyance, but the Company's splendid safety record combined with the efforts of a few enthusiasticaerial travellers have paved the way towards a general use and popularity of the aeroplane. For air route travel a tremendous amount of enthusiasmand propaganda has been put in by the old western pioneer— Mr. Alexander Kennedy. Though'87 years of age this gentle-man booked the initial trip over the route nearly three years ago and has been a regular traveller ever since, having travelleda total distance of 1,866 miles by air. Mr. Fergus McMaster the first Chairman of the Company also set a fine examplein this respect. Dr. F. A. H. Michod has led the way in regard to " Medical "taxi work and has been a regular user of the aeroplane in connection with his practice for the last two years, havingcovered 3,100 miles by air often over impassable roads and rivers. The company has an ardent advocate in Dr. Michodand his practical example has been of great assistance to the company. Many of Dr. Michod's trips have been in answerto urgent calls, and the great saving of time effected has not only enabled him to attend patients in less than half the timeusually taken, but has allowed him to, at the same time, carry on his Longreach practice. During wet weather trips too numerous to mention areundertaken. Messrs. Winchcombe Carsons enterprising Longreach branch send all their clients by air during such timesas the roads are in a heavy state, and many interesting trips with sheep buyers have been carried out in this respect.On one occasion, following heavy rains, children returning from school were stuck up in Longreach. Three 'plane loadswere flown home to different stations. Last year a shearing shed was enabled to start through17 shearers being transported across the flooded Thompson Kiver. At the same time a load of beer and rum was flownacross to a hotel whose supplies had got low during the period of floods ! During the month of December last 35 taxipassengers were carried in safety to their destinations, the distance flown being over 2,000 miles. The good work done at the Longreach aerodrome has to agreat extent accounted for the excellent safety run which the Company has enjoyed. Since the introduction of newmachines and engines 21 months ago, 145,283 miles have been flown and during this time not one single case of an enginecutting out in the air has occurred. Machines and engines are kept at their highest pitch of efficiency, and have thereforegiven good service. During last year a De Havilland 4 machine wasrebuilt at the aerodrome, and fitted up as a commercial machine with a comfortable upholstered cabin. All thebody and wings of machine were entirely rebuilt, and a very creditable job turned out. The machine is capable of a topspeed of 125 m.p.h. and cruises comfortably at 90 m.p.h. This is the fastest machine in Queensland, and is a favouritewith passengers when quick taxi trips have to be undertaken. A Bristol Fighter machine has also been partly reconstructedat the aerodrome and a new type of engine fitted. The present policy of Quantas has as its object the followingextensions to the present Charleville-Camooweal route of 825 miles :— (1) A link connecting Charleville with Brisbane, thus securing the great advantages of a complete airroute between the nearest capital city and Western Queensland. (2) As an alternative to No. 1 a Southern extension from Charlevillc through Bourke. (3) A connection between Camooweal and Daly Waters and eventually to Darwin.It is hoped that the Camooweal-Daly Waters section will be opened up in 1927, a link at Daly W'aters being made withthe Katherine River-Daly Waters railway, which is shortly to be put under construction. The service will then be withineasy reach of Darwin. The company has also decided to place on the route newmachines, carrying from 6 to 8 passengers, as soon as conditions warrant and this step becomes practicable. _ , . ..„...., ~ Society held on April 13, Air Vice-Marshal Sir Sefton Royal Aeronautical Society's New President Brancker, K.C.B., A.F.C., F.R.Ae.S., was elected President AT a meeting of the Council of the Royal Aeronautical of the Society. 246
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