Bay of Plenty Times. MONDAY, APRIL 19th., 1937 AIRCRAFT AND SCIENCE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12304, 19 April 1937, Page 2

Bay of Plenty Times. MONDAY, APRIL 19th., 1937 AIRCRAFT AND SCIENCE

Au enormous number of aeroplanes are being built this year throughout the world. The number is estimated at 28,000, nearly 80 a day, and although most of the machines are wanted for sinister purposes, this building rivalry must lead to vast improvement in the construction of the machine. It is the machine for civil aviation that interests most people, and it is marvellous what has been achieved in the construction of air liners. Speed, safety, and comfort, are the main requirements, and these are receiving close and constant attention.

It cannot be said that science has not achieved a great measure of success, but who can doubt that a great deal more is possible! Por I the chief aim in the construction | of aeroplanes, for civilian service is “safety first,” and it must be admitted that air travel is to-day less risky than travelling by mo-tor-car on the highways'. The one unascertained factor is the vagary of the weather, but even the effects of that are being minimised. Regular air services cover almost all routes, and the service between the United Kingdom and the United States will begin very soon, as the machine intended for this service has already undergone extensive tests and trials. Among the many aspects of the new Empire flying boats which are finding favour with passengers, none is evoking greater* praise than the provision of the •spacious promenade cabin. The promenade deck is proving one of the most popular features of the “C” class aircraft. The new airliners of Imperial Airways—the Ensign Class—are giants, and twelve are now under construction. Each will have a length of 114 ft., and a span of 127 ft. The I weight fully loaded, will be about ! 20 tons, and the speed approxij mutely 200 miles per hour, i The power-plant comprises four j “Tiger” air-cooled engines, each , I developing 800 horse power, i 1 When in use on Empire services, | these “E”. claws air liners, will i have a crew of four, and will carry 27 passengers on day stages, and 20 in comfortable sleeping berths on night journeys. When flying on European routes, there will be a crew of live and accommodation for 40 passengers. Behind the control room is a smoking room, and aft of this is a capacious mail, freight and baggage hold. Then follows a completely equipped kitchen, followed by toilet compartments and a i promenade deck. Experiments are being made at Croydon with three different systems of ultra short-wave radio approach. It is explained that these radio systems are designed to give automatic navigation assistance to aircraft coming into land in bad visibility, and that they should be a valuable complement to the normal direction finding ground equipment, which is designed only to lead aircraft to the immediate proximity of the aerodrome.