MAYO COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22414, 30 May 1938, Page 11

MAYO COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT

SATISFACTORY FULL-LOAD TESTS POSSIBLE ATLANTIC PLIGHT THIS YEAR (raoji oub own coebespondent.) LONDON, May 11. With the New Zealander, Mr H. L. Piper (formerly of Christchurch) at the controls, the Mercury separated from the Maia on two occasions early this week during the first full-load separation trials of the Mayo Composite aircraft. The tests were held ever Felixstowe, where the Air Ministry has a Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment. The Mercury was carrying 1180 gallons of petrol, and its leaded weight was 20,8001b. The fuel was sufficient for a flight to New York In. windless conditions.

In order to use up the petrol, the Mercury would have had to continue flying for 26 hours to reduce the wing loading to the point at which an alighting at a reasonable speed might be made. Instead, the test was made to include a trial of the jettisoning apparatus, which is intended to lighten the seaplane quickly in case of emergency soon after taking off. In less than a quarter of an hour, 900 ■ gallons of petrol had been dumped at heights between 4000 feet and 2000 feet. The trim of the Mercury was riot affected. The Mercury has also carried out tests up to 12,000 feet, completing the trials necessary for the airworthiness certificate. Further tests will be made soon, and it is understood that experimental flights will be made over the Atlantic early this- summer, without any intermediary flights along the Empire routes. First air mails are also expected to be carried to New York this year by the seaplane, which can cruise at about 180 m.p.h. with full fuel load