FLYING BOAT CRASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 101, 2 May 1939, Page 9

FLYING BOAT CRASH.

Imperial Airways Craft At Mozambique.

MISHAP ON LANDING.

(Received 9.30 a.m.) DURBAN, May 1. The Imperial Airways flying boat Challenger , crashed while landing at Mozambique, East Africa. The flisht clerk, named Bought, was killed, and the wireless operator, Webb, is missing. The remainder of the Challenger's occupants, five members of the three passengers, are safe, though several are reported to be injured. The machine is in four feet of water. A rescue 'plane, with a doctor and nurses, set out from Lourenco Marques. GREAT ACTIVITY. Modern Luxury Air liners For British Fleet. COMMERCIAL SERVICES. LONDON, April 26. Apart from that caused by Air Force orders, there is great activity in turning out new land and seaplanes for Britain's commercial air fleet.

Important among these is the land 'plane version of the Short-Mayo composite pick-a-back, from which the designers expect 270 miles an hour cruising speed and 14,000 miles non-stop. There is also the "sides coloesus" which far outstrips previous craft and is being prepared to re-equip the main air fleets a few years'hence. Shorts are also completing three seaplanes, Grenadier, Golden Hind and Grenville, which are larger than any others. Each has four Bristol-Hercules sleeve-valve air-cooled engines and develops over 5500 horse-power. The Air Ministry has ordered 14 275 miles an hour Fairey air liners, fitted with four 1000 horse-power engines, and having a range of 1700 miles. The de Havilland Flamingo, a graceful all-metal, high-wing monoplane, equipped with two Bristol Perseus sleevevalve engines is completing its ofikia trials as the factory is preparing to quantity production.

All designers are watching passe n gers' comfort very closely. IN RESCUE 'PLANE. RUSSIANS REACH NEW YORK. XEW YORK, May 1. The Soviet flyers, General Kokkinski and Major Gordienko. who crashed on an island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence after crossing the Atlantic, have arrived in a rescue aeroplane. They will remain in Xew York iiendin? further orders.