AIR MAIL SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 47, 18 November 1933, Page 7

AIR MAIL SERVICE

England to Australia TYPE OF AEROPLANE London, November 16. “Flight.” the Royal Aero Club organ, in publishing a series of articles by Mr. Hudson Fysh, emphasising the unsuitability of single or twin-engined machines for the Timor Sea crossing, also the riskiness on the Australian air route of cheese-paring methods, pays a tribute to the sense of security provided in machines such as the Astrea. Editorially commending Mr. Fysh’s absence of prejudice against singleengined machines, despite the Qantas Coinpany’a success with them, “Flight says: “Nevertheless, we do not abandon the belief that flying*boats are preferable throughout between Darwin and Calcutta, where the hull adds something to the safety of the route already provided in the Atalanta type landplanes. It is vital to the Empire that flying boats should be developed to the utmost. It is the business of the Government rather than of a commercial company to encourage types of Imperial importance in the future, which may not be the best present payers of dividends.”

Commenting on Major Robertson’s statement that one of the reasons for providing the London-Melbourne air race prize money is to teach people where Melbourne is, “Flight” says: “It is deplorable that such a remark is justified, but it is a fact that the geography of the Empire is badly taught in most British and possibly also Dominion schools. There is no need for Australians to bewail the backwardness of their aircraft design. They have established some of the finest and most useful airlines in the world, and will soon join hands with Imperial Airways in putting Melbourne on the map.”