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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0321.PDF
FLIGHT, APRIL 3, 1931 DEVELOPMENTS IN AUSTRALIA AUST:USTRAL1AN National Airways, the mail and tran-sport company operated by Air CommodoreKingsford Smith and Mr. C. T. Him, is apparentlycontinuing its steady and successful progress, and, according to reports, is considering increased activities in several directions in the near future. For instance, two important proposals consist of a passenger and mail service between Melbourne and Launceston, Tasmania, and, secondly, a night service between Mel- bourne and Sydney. The question of an air service between Australia and Tas- mania has been under con- sideration for some time, and there is little doubt that such a service would be a boon to the people of Tasmania. At present it takes about 18 hours to cross the more often than not rough waters separ- ating the two islands by steamship, whereas an air service would occupy only about three or four hours. It will be remembered that Matthews Aviation Pty., Ltd., has had such a service in view for some time past, and proposed to employ Saro amphibians for the purpose. Capt. G. C. Matthews has already a Saro " Cutty Sark," and has made an experimental flight across the Bass Strait in his machine, but while the " Cutty Sark " is certainly the right type of machine for the service, it is thought that a more powerful machine is desirable. It is reported, therefore, that Matthews Aviation is adopting the Saro " Cloud "—the larger three-engined version of the " Cutty Sark "—for the Bass Strait service. The " Cloud," which has a cruising speed of about 100 m.p.h., can carry twelve passengers and two pilots, and would complete the journey between Melbourne and Hobart in about five hours, also, it would be capable of being able to ride out almost any sea. The first experimental flight, referred to above, was made last December, the first section of the flight from Melbourne to Wilson's Promontory was completed on December 13, but, owing to extremely unfavour- able weather conditions it was considered inadvisable to attempt the flight across the Bass Strait. After four days' delay, however, the flight was continued to Launceston, which, in spite of a head wind, was reached in 3J hours. Throughout the flight across the Bass Strait the chain of islands or rocks—Anser Group, Roodondo, Crocodile, Curtis Pyramid, Hummocky (off Flinders Island), Goose and Waterhouse—which it has been said once formed a land bridge between Tasmania and the mainland, were within reach practically all the time. While it is doubtful if many of these islands afford a landing place for landplanes, they would, nevertherless, offer shelter for seaplanes or amphibians should occasion arise. THE "CUTTY SARK" IN TASMANIA: The Matthews Aviation Saro "Cutty Sark" amphibianarriving at Hobart after a flight from Australia on December 18 last. From Launceston the journey was continued to Hobart, in H hours. Experimental flights between Melbourne and Launceston have also been carried out by Australian National Airways, Kingsford Smith himself piloting the first machine—the Avro 10 tri-motored monoplane Southern Cloud, which recently was lost on the Sydney-Melbourne service—with nine passengers on January 16. The journey took exactly three hours, and during the next few weeks further flights in each direction were carried out. Whether or not the service is to be a regular one depends upon the support received. As regards the A.N.A. scheme for a night service between Melbourne and Syd- ney, this is being held in abeyance for the time being, as it is hoped that Govern- ment assistance will be forth- coming. Organisation and plant for a night air service would be too costly for A.N.A. to tackle on their own. The Tasmania service and the above night service, to- gether with Guinea Airways' proposed seaplane service between Lae (New Guinea) and Brisbane, should they materialise, will considerably increase Australia's aerial activities, and the Common- wealth will be almost girdled by air lines. Before concluding, we would refer to some interesting statistics regarding the operations of Australian National Airways for the twelve months January 1 to December 31, 1930, which we give in the accompanying table. We think our readers will agree that the figures are remarkable, especially in view of the fact that the company does not receive any Government subsidy. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL AIRWAYS—JAN. 1-DEC. 31 Sydney-Brisbane Service 736735 99-73 71797-41 Nil Nil Regular Service Flights Only—using Tri-motor Avro 10 Monoplanes fitted with Armstrong-Siddeley " Lynx " Engines Flights scheduled Flights completedPercentage completed Flights completed to schedule time ..Percentage completed to schedule time .. Flights not completed (mechanical failure)Flights not completed (adverse weather) Flights delayed (mechanical failure) . . Flights delayed (adverse weather) ..Single trips (Brisbane 500 miles) (Melbourne 475 miles) 735 Paying passengers carried 4,794Aircraft miles flown 372,000 Engine miles flown 916,000Passenger miles flown 2,397,000 Air mail letters carried (approx.) . . . . 663,640Net weight of air mail carried (lb.) .. 16,591 Accidents involving injury to passengers orpersonnel Nil Average speed (m.p.h.) .. .. .. 104 18 Sydney-Melbourne Service 428427 99-76403 94-16Nil 1 Nil24 4271,278 202,150 606,450596,100 53,4001,336 Nil107-5 1930 Totalfor 12 Months 1,1641,162 99-821,120 96-22 Nil42 1,1626,072 574,1501,522,450 2,993,100717,040 17,927 Nil New Irish Aviation Company IONA National Airways, Limited, the new Irish aviation company, which was mentioned in our "Companies Regis- tered " notices recently, has for its main object, the thorough development of school and " joy " flying throughout the Irish Free State. Mr. Hugh Cahill, who started the Iona National Flying School last year, is one of the directors and the company will take over the machines, a Desoutter Mk II (inverted Gipsy) and a Gipsy Moth, and interests of the original enterprise. Mr. Cahill had hoped that negotiations with the Government would have resulted in his aerodrome being at Collinstown, but as the Government are considering this site as a possible airport for Dublin, he has decided to obtain land near the city and establish a private aerodrome. More machines are to be acquired both for school and taxi-work and it is expected that Iona National Airways will be in full working order during the next two months. An interesting clause in the Articles of Associa- tion, states that the company has the right to enter into business with any other company, either in the Irish Free State or abroad, which means it will endeavour to arrange with an English organisation for an England—Ireland service. 297
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