TEST FLIGHTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22774, 7 July 1937, Page 13

TEST FLIGHTS

FIRST TRIPS BEGUN TRANSATLANTIC SERVICE ■ FLYING-BOAT LEAVES IRELAND CLIPPER FROM NEWFOUNDLAND By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 6, 7.5 p.m.). LONDON, July 5 The Empire flying-boat Caledonia left Foynes, Limerick, Ireland, at 7.57 p.m. to-day on its transatlantic commercial flight. This is the first of the experimental trips. Amid cheers from a few hundred Irish people, led by Mr. de Valera, the Caledonia taxied over the Shannon and flew into the vast space of the Atlantic.

It is difficult now to make history in aviation, but it will be made if the first double transatlantic commercial flight is successful, and the way will be prepared for a permanent regular flying-boat service between • England, Ireland and the United States, who are the three parties, to this great enterprise. at A wireless message from the. Caledonia received at 9.30 p.m. stated that she was making good progress. The Caledonia carries 2320 gallons of petrol. Her weight at taking-off was about 21 tons. She has four 910 horsepower engines and will consume petrol at the rate of half a ton an hour.

A message from Botwood, Newfoundland, reports the beginning of a corresponding flight from Newfoundland to Foynes by Captain Gray, in a Pan-American Airways Clipper.

ARRIVAL AT FOYNES AMERICAN MACHINE CROWD'S CORDIAL WELCOME (Received July 7, 1.5 a.m.) LOXDOX, July/6 The Pan American Airways Clipper arrived at Foynes at 10.45 a.m. to-day.. Mist and rain but the weather cleared and crowds of people obtained a splendid view of the silver conqueror of the Atlantic, which was fastened to her mooring at 10.50 a.m.

The machine had taken 12h. 40m. to cross the Atlantic. Mr. de \ 7 alera, Mr. Lemass and officials of the Air Ministry and Imperial Airways welcomed the crew who were loudly cheered by the onlookers, many of whom had arrived in' jaunting cars drawn by donkeys.

The Air Ministry at,7 a.m. issued a bulletin stating that the flying-boat Caledonia had covered 1340 miles, while the. Clipper covered 1240 miles. The pilot of the Caledonia at 6.50 a.m.. wirelessed to -the Clipper a message of good luck and warning the crew that there was an almost constant layer of clouds and showers to Foynes.

The British flying-boats used in the test flights across the Atlantic are not the types which will be employed regularly when the organisation for the service is completed. It is possible that for the regular service a new type, the construction of which has been begun by Short Brothers, will be the British contribution, and a big new Boeing ■ flying-boat, also under construction, will be provided by the United States. The experimental flights will be spread over a period of many months. The British experiments will be financed by the Government. When the joint operating company, representing Britain, Canada and the Irish Free State, is formed it will be subsidised. In the experiments now being taken, the British flying-boats used will be the Caledonia and the Cambrip. two Empire machines which have been specially equipped for longrange work. They have a range of 3500 miles and a cruising speed of about 160 miles an hour.

The American aeroplane is a Sikorsky 428, which has approximately the same performance. British experiments are, however, also to be made with the D.H. Albatross four-engined land aeroplane, with the Mayo composite aircraft, and possibly also by means of a type refuelled while in flight. There are formidable difficulties to be overcome before an all-the-year-round Atlantic service can .be operated. Ice on the in Newfoundland and the Northern States of America may prohibit the employment of flying-boats during seven or eight months of the year, and it is possible that the route flown will be varied seasonally. On account of the comparative rarity of winds favouring the East-to-West crossing, it will usually take much longer to fly, and fuel and commercial load problems will accordingly be more difficult to solve. Favoured by weather conditions, it is possible that in some of the early experiments the flying-boats crossing toward Europe may go to Southampton, which will be the British terminus of the regular service.