EMPIRE AIR LINES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 75, 9 January 1928, Page 5

EMPIRE AIR LINES.

DEMONSTRATION FLIGHTS. FIRST PROBABLE NEXT YEAR. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON. January 8. x ' Full of optimism, the Air Mission returned from Australia and Nbav Zealand. The Air Ministry has decided to go ahead, as early as possible, with demonstration flights immediately two airships are available. It is expected that the first available will be RIOO, which is. being built by contract by Commander Burney’s Company, probably late in 1929, because the engines are petrol dr Ren. The Ministry prefers demonstration under normal atmospheric conditions, therefore it decided that the first demonstration shall be in Canada, probably in the Canadian autumn of 1931. Thereafter, another demonstration m India. _ The second airship, 11101, which is being built at the Air Ministry’s works at Cardington, will probably be ready early in 1930. This airship is fuelled with heavy oil, and therefore is better suited to the cold, sub-tropical and tropical climates encountered between Britain and the Cape. The first trip of RlOl will be limited to the Cape and the second to Perth, via the Cape. It is proposed to date the trip Avlien favourable winds will enable the airship to utilise only tAvo out of five engines between the Cape and Australia. It is also proposed to return via Ceylon, when there are favourable Avinds in the Indian Ocean, the ships proceeding from Ceylon, Avhich the Air Ministry prophesies will probably become one of tlie Avorld’s greatest ports to Egypt.