FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1935
1935 - 1363.PDF
JUNE 6, 1935- FLIGHT. 613 SOME RANDOM JOTTINGS BY LORD SEMPILL ON HIS RETURN FROM AUSTRALIA THERE are, perhaps, a few points worth mentioning in regard to my homeward flight from Australia. Although I followed the same general route, I touched at several places not visited on the outward journey. The return flight across the Timor Sea was made from Wynd- ham, which involved a somewhat shorter sea passage, and it is interesting to recall that on this route the first ' Australian land to be sighted when crossing from Koepang is Cape Londonderry. This being my last sight of the Commonwealth, my mind travelled homeward much faster than my machine, and I was led to conjecture how British aviation was faring under the administration of the peer after whose family the point in question was named. Those who have the interests of flying at heart in Australia are anxious to build up their services on British lines. As far as military aviation is concerned, this is most marked, a constant liaison being kept between the R.A.A.F. and the Home Air Forces, with interchange of technical information on both sides. Designing for Australia FHE basis of civil flying has also been laid on lines *• adopted in this country, and it is up to British manu facturers to see that, in the future development of air transport for civil purposes in Australia, there is no neces sity for aircraft operators in the Commonwealth to look elsewhere for their machines. Although it was a matter of no consequence as far as I was concerned, it may be mentioned that in the case of a heavily laden machine the airport at Wyndham gener ally provides a better take-off than that at Darwin. The latter being the first port of call decided on for the machines used on the extension of the Imperial Service from Singapore, the Australian authorities are seeking to improve the aerodrome at Darwin, both in regard to the available landing surface and also in connection with the ground organisation generally. The Timor Sea Again C\N my second flight across the Timor Sea I started ^ with a full load of petrol, filling both the wing tanks and the ten-gallon auxiliary tank in the cabin. The conditions being favourable, I reached Koepang with suffi cient fuel in hand. Since I last landed there, some three months before, the surface of the aerodrome had been con siderably improved. The ground organisation along the route to Singapore, which has, of course, been developed by the Dutch, has been of great benefit to those who have flown to and from Australia. A most efficient air service, the K.N.I.L.M., has, in fact, long been in operation throughout the Dutch East Indies, and those responsible for this organisation have co-operated closely with British and Australian officials with a view to linking up this ser vice with the Imperial line. Having for many years been anxious to help this country and Australia by organising a further extension of th«ir Far Eastern Air Service, the Dutch have greatly facilitated the setting up of the final an link under British and Australian administration, not only by placing aerodrome facilities at our disposal, but by their readiness to co-operate in any modification of the ground organisation which was found to be necessary. My On the Empire Routes own experience of the Dutch air authorities, and I am sure that of all others, has always been a happy one, and I have never found lacking a desire on their part to render assistance when it was required. I duly arrived at Singapore, where I was very kindly received by the A.O.C. He and all R.A.F. officers out here go out of their way to assist civil aviators of all nationali ties. The civil aerodrome at Singapore, which, of course, will take time to complete, will undoubtedly be, when finished, one of the finest, both in situation and equipment, in the Empire, and will certainly be in the front rank of airports of the world. Facilities are being provided for both aero planes and flying boats. Unlike so many airports serving important centres, the new aerodrome at Singapore will be but five minutes from the city. Even so, it will be readily accessible to all types of aircraft, care having been taken to ensure that the immediate surroundings are free from obstructions. The problems of aerodrome layout in Malaya are similar to those found generally in countries affected by monsoon conditions. Considerable attention must be paid to drainage, and some means must be found to secure a firm landing area in all weathers. In most cases this will involve the making of metalled runways such as those under construction at Penang. Considerable progress had been made there since my last visit, and no doubt the main runway, which has a length of approximately 1,000 yards, will by this time have been completed. I looked in at Kuala Lumpur on my way back, and found here also that aerodrome improvements were being effected. The flying club, which has been very active since its formation, was doing good work, and there were several lady members either qualified for their "A" licence or under initial in struction. Among the private owners are Chinese as well as British pilots. Improvements in India THE situation on that section of the Imperial Route con trolled by the Indian Authorities is being well looked after. Landing at Akyab I found that a good deal of work was to be done at once to make the landing ground suit able for the heaviest types of machine during monsoon weather. In Calcutta further progress was observed in the arrangements for providing a new civil aerodrome to the south of the city. The site chosen, which is very much nearer the centre of the town than the airport at Dum Dum, is already being used for passenger flights. It has the further advantage of being near the river, which should enable the authorities to provide facilities for flying boats at a later date. In any scheme of improvement for the Empire Air Routes, the possibility of the use of large sea-going aircraft should not be forgotten when organisa tion is being planned, and sites should be favourably con sidered which combine suitable conditions for land air craft and seaplanes. On the way back through India I called at Delhi, where I had occasion to land after dusk. Night-flying equipment, although it is occupying the close attention of the authorities, is not yet complete in India generally, and at Delhi I landed with the aid of kerosene flares. The D.C.A., Captain Tymms, and his greatly over worked staff, are tackling the problem continuously, and arrangements have been, or are just about to be, put in hand for the complete lighting of all aerodromes, together with the provision of intermediate beacons on the route between Karachi and Rangoon.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
