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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0307.PDF
FLIGHT, MARCH 29, 1934 SURVEYING WESTERN AUSTRALIA FOR GOLD THE GOLD SEEKERS: The two D.H " Dragons," Golden West and Gay Prospector, employed for Surveying gold-mining areas in Western Australia. WE have received some further particulars concern-ing the big aerial survey expedition now inprogress in Western Australia, to which wehave already referred on one or two previous occasions. The expedition—the object of which is to locate newgold bearing formations—is the work of a new Australian company, the Western Mining Corporation, which, in addi-tion to reopening certain existing mines, is making a con- sistent search for new mining fields. To assist the com-pany's geologists, an air survey section, under the leader- ship of Wing Com. Laws, who was formerly in commandof the Royal Air Force School of Photography in this country, has been equipped. Equipment of Aeroplanes ^ Two specially fitted two-engined de Havilland " Dragons," Gay Prospector and Golden West, are being used in the survey. Both planes are equipped with two tanks, each holding 36 gallons of motor spirit, and an extra tank holding 24 gallons, giving a total flying range of eight hours, or 800 to 900 miles. The undercarriages of the planes have been strengthened, and large sized wheels, protected with streamline " spats," have been fitted to allow the machines to operate from rough landing grounds. Special mountings have been fitted to the floor of the cabin to carry cameras taking photographs vertically through a special port, while oblique photographs will be taken by special hand cameras through the aft windows of the cabin. As very accurate flying is necessary for air photography, special compasses have been installed on the planes, and a Sperry Directional Gyro and a Reid Turn Indicator have been fitted to enable the pilots to steer a straight course. In the floor of the cockpit a drift sight is fitted. Another special instrument, a statoscope, will assist the pilot to maintain a constant height, as any variations would re- sult in variations in the scale of the photograph. Directional Wireless Photographing unmapped country presents many difficul- ties, and in order that the leader of the expedition and the pilots may know their position at any time, wireless apparatus is fitted to both planes. Three motor lorries, fitted with wireless telegraphy, telephony apparatus and direction rinding instruments, will operate with the planes, so that with one lorry at headquarters and two in suitable positions in the area being photographed, the leader will be able to keep in close touch all the time with the ss ss s§ "Air Day" ON Wednesday, March 21, Sir Philip Sassoon, Under- secretary of State for Air, stated that proposals were under consideration for the institution of an annual " Air Day," when facilities would be provided for the public to visit R.A.F. stations and Government civil aerodromes. Although quite non-committal, this statement is generally considered to be equivalent to an admission of the inten- tion of the Government to support the scheme. aeroplanes. A 10-in. camera lens is to be used, and from aheight of 12,000 ft., at which most of the work will be done, each photograph will represent an area of 7,800 ft.by 10,572 ft. on the ground. The automatic Williamson Eagle Cameras will carry magazines containing 200negatives. Amongst the other special equipment to be carried willbe a smoke bomb outfit by which the pilot can find the direction of the wind on the ground. It is also proposedto carry supply-dropping parachutes in case either of the aeroplanes has to make a forced landing in the bush. The Pilots The two aeroplanes will be flown by Capt. C. W. Snookand Fit. Lt. Campbell. The latter is an Australian who was a pilot in Sir Douglas Mawson's expedition, and whosince then has been engaged in British aircraft manufac- turing works. Wing Com. Laws is in charge of the whole aerial surveysection, and the ground staff has been so chosen that there is an understudy for every job. For instance, two truckdrivers are experienced pilots, and the clerical personnel are also able either to drive the trucks or act in othercapacities. Plan of Operation The method of operation of the air survey section is as follows. After an area has been selected, the aeroplanes, each carrying a geologist, will set off on their course, keep- ing in constant communication with their field wireless stations. Photographs will be taken of possible gold-bear- ing areas, and these will be used for examination by the company's geologists. The first base of the expedition has been established at Kalgoorlie. Benefit to Australia The West Australian Government has granted certain rights to the company, as it feels that Western Australia particularly, and Australia generally, will benefit from the result of the attempt to discover new gold-bearing forma- tions by means of modern methods. In all, reservations have been granted to the company covering areas totalling 12,000 square miles. Efforts will be directed first of all to the examination of specially selected areas in the Kimberley, Kalgoorlie and Parker Range districts. The Vacuum Oil Company is co-operating in the organi- sation of the survey and has arranged supplies of motor spirit and Mobiloil for both the aerial and the ground expeditions. Air defence demonstration at RoyalTournament THE organising committee of this year's Royal Tourna- ment has decided to stage an event portraying the defence of London by territorial anti-aircraft units. Searchlights and " Archies " will be manned by crews wearing gas masks. At present there are two such territorial units, both of which are below their established strength, which means that only about 50 lights can be manned. 307 ] :
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