FIFTEEN PER CENT. WOULD FLY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 254, 24 July 1935, Page 10

FIFTEEN PER CENT. WOULD FLY

Tranis-Tasman Passengers

‘‘About 15 per cent, of I lie people « Ito normally travel by steamer between Australia and New Zealand would bo prepared Io pay a little more Io do the trip in nine hours instead of 31 days.” declared Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, who arrived at. Wellington from Auckland in an Air Force machine yesterday afternoon.

"If my company gels I lie contract lor tlie irans-Tasinan service. I would certainly Uy the lirst plane of tlie regular service across the Tasman, and that would be the fulfilment of a great ambition. Probably there will be Iwo Hights in cacti direction weekly at the opening of the service." Sikorsky flying boats such n.s he proposes to use if mail ami passengers are to bo carried, were used by P.-in-Anierican Airways on their Florida service. They were a great deal more expensive than lamlplanes. but their capacity was inliniteiy greater. It would be necessary io have only tw.i living boats for the service at the start Each would cost approximately ±72.000 "The figures 1 have recently obtained both in respect to performance and pay-load of these boats are better than anticipaleil," said Sir Charles. “If the service is inaugurated it should bi? in operation in about nine months from the word 'go.' Radio beacons will not be tin imperative need. These boats have their own direction-finding equipment, and can pick up the ordinary longwave stations, in addition to shortwave stations. They carry a swinging aerial to enable them to do this. Smaller planes arc unable to carry the <ippar;itn< on :iccount of the room it occupies. The must recent of those machines is equipped with every com fort, including kitchen, lavatories, smoky rooms nnd other amenities." Sir Charles said a cnmpair.' would not bo formed until permission to conduct the service was given The capit tl was available, and the coniptiU'- would probably be floated for £250(1(10