ACROSS OCEAN ROUTES

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 9

ACROSS OCEAN ROUTES

LONG-DISTANCE FLYING.

SEA 'PLANE OR LAND TLANE ?

In discussing the future of long distance flying across ocean routes Mr. W. T. Miiler, head of United States Bureau of Air Commerce, said there were two schools of thought in respect to this question. One favoured sea 'planes and the other land 'planes. He was not prepared to say which would eventually predominate, as changes in equipment were made so frequently on account of experience gained in the air and the scientific developments taking place. Mr. Miller explained that land 'planes were able to fly at higher altitudes than sea 'planes and make .faster passages. That was the reason they were fa.voured by some authorities. It meant flying in the sub-stratosphere and equipment

was p: a ced in the cabins for the inhalation of oxygen. By such transport distances between countries were in effect lessened. There was also the flotation gear in the wings for emergency purposes in case of a forced landing in the sea, while the fuselage was so constructed as to allow it to float. On the other hand, Mr. Miller said, sea 'planes were able to carry heavy pay loads over long distances. The engines of both types of machine were most reliable to-day, and an accident was seldom due to engine trouble. At the present time experiments were being made with land 'planes over the North Atlantic. That would be a good test and the results would be received with interest in aviation circles.