A MAIL A DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 149, 25 June 1936, Page 22

A MAIL A DAY.

EMPIRE SERVICES. FLIGHTS OVER 27 COUNTRIES. (PLAftES WITH HOTEL COMFORTS. Work is well advanced on the 29 fl ving-boats, the largest commercial machines ever designed, now being built for Imperial Airways by Short Bros., nt Rochester. They are to replace the present fleet on the Empire routes, at a cost of £2,000,000. The first will be off the stocks within a few weeks; the others will follow at intervals of three weeks. Number One will be used 011 the present service across the Mediterranean, nnd Number Two in experiments for the trans-atlantic service to Canada, which is part of Imperial Airways' programme j for next year. As a result of the Government's policy ] of ultimately sending all first-class mail to Empire countries by air at the ordinary postage rates, Imperial Airways have been able to place the order for new and faster flying-boats, and also for 12 new land 'planes. Seven Days to Australia. With this great fleet in operation next vcar it will be possible to reach South Africa in four days, India in two and a half, Malaya in four, and Australia in seven days. There will be five services cach week to India and Africa, ten to Egypt. It will mean the end of l "mail days," and it will no longer be necessary to post letters 011 certain days of the week for different parts of the Empire. A letter posted in the ordinary' box will be automatically sent t>v the next day's 'plane. Everything has been designed for the comfort of the passengers. For the first time on any Imperial Airways' machine there is a smoking room. There meals are served, drinks—from champagne to mineral water —are obtainable, and the passengers can sit on comfortable settees and view the world below through low windows. Promenade Cabin. Next is a promenade cabin, with seats on only one side to allow passengers space for walking. Beside each seat is an adjustable ventilator, and every seat is adjustable for height and angle. There is seating accommodation for 24 passengers and sleeping accommodation for 16, as well as room for a large quantity of mail. The machines are all-metal, ' fourengined, 4000 h.p. monoplanes, with a maximum speed of nearly 200 m.p.h.

It is intended to' speed up the whole service by flying -night and day, ancl negotiations have been entered into with the 27 countries over Which the company's machines fly, for the reorganisation of the flying fields.

They are to be equipped with better meteorlogical facilities, landing lights, beacons, and wireless equipment for direction finding.