IN STRATOSPHERE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 207, 2 September 1938, Page 9

IN STRATOSPHERE.

HUGE NEW 'PLANE. PROJECT IN AMERICA. OXYGEN-SEAXED CABIN. News of American plans to build a giant aeroplane to travel in the stratosphere was given this morning by Mr. F. T. Wheeler, who for 10 years was associated with the Douglas Company. He arrived at Auckland in the Monterey this morning on his way to take up the position of factory manager for Commonwealth Aviation, Limited, at Fishermen's Bend, Melbourne. His first task there will be to superintend the building of 100 new 'planes for Australia's Air Force.

Tlie new giant 'plane, he said, would be supercharged with oxygen. That was to say, the main cabin of the 'plane would be sealed to the atmosphere, and would contain oxygen at a pressure of olbs to the square inch. This oxygen would be used when the machine reached an altitude of 18,000 to 2.1.000 feet.

Travel in the stratosphere, he added, was the move of the future. It was estimated that the cruising speed of the machine would be thus increased by 33 per cent.

Largest 'Plane in the World.

Mention of this new- project led Mr. Wheeler to speak of the present largest aeroplane in the world, built by the Douglas Company, the D.C.4., which was powered by engines of 5000 h.p., had a top speed of 245 miles an hour and a cruising speed of 195 miles an hour. It had accommodation for 40 day passengers or 25 night passengers, that is, it would "sleep" the latter number. Among its amenities were a honeymoon suite, a lounge, a men's and women's dressing room and a buffet.

One of the safety devices recently incorporated into the D.C.4. were "what were known as dump valves. They were

the means by which, in the case of need, petrol could be "dumped." The device, lie said, was the result of research carried out following the tragic loss of the Samoan Clipper on January 12 last, when that 'plane was inaugurating the commercial air service between San Francisco and Auckland.

The valves, he said, protruded below the wing and were connected with four of the main tanks. Tests of actual dumping had been carried out. and no trace of the discarded petrol had been found on the machine afterwards. It had been specially treated so that signs of it would remain if it had contacted the machine.

Australia's New Machines.

Speaking of the new machines for the Australian Air Force, Air. Wheeler said that, in his opinion, the type was the most advanced and finest training ship" in the world. They were described as North American General two-place machines, and they were to be used for advanced training. They were fitted with Pratt and Whitney Wasp engines, generating 550 h.p., though that horse-power woTild be increased. The expression "two place," he explained, meant that the machines were for two men, the pilot and his companion. There were two machineguns, a fixed Lewis gun in the front cockpit, and a flexible gun in the rear cockpit.

The actual building of the machines was to be done in Melbourne, lie added. All that had been supplied from America was the materials.

Asked whether Australia intended to enlarge its Air Force further, he said it was believed that this set of 100 machines was only a start to Australia's rearmament plan.