NEW FLYING BOATS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page VI (Supplement)

NEW FLYING BOATS

The Size of Steamers

The most astonishing aircraft ever built is under construction at the Short Brothers’ (lying-boat works, Rochester, Kent.

It will be an air boat 250 feet long, nearly the size of a Channel steamer. Between SO and 100 passengers will be carried.

By reducing the passenger load and increasing the fuel supply, the boat could fly half-way round the world without refuelling. Its wing span will be nearly 100 yards. After all the preliminary tests have been gone through boats of this type ’will supersede the Empire type Hying boats now going into service with Imperial Airways. And witli probable engine development in tin’s period the boats will cruise al. 250 m.p.li. ■Within two years, the average speed of tlic standard airliner will be more than 300 miles an hour. Ami that speed will be attained with no more horse-power than the present machine;; need--aml less fuel will be used. Air fares will be reduced. These new aircraft will be monoplanes, and passengers and pilots will sit in the wing.

The fuselage—where passengers and freight are usually accommodated now—will be made as small as possible. Probably it will be reduced to strong booms holding the tail unit — because the ideal aeroplane is a playing wing with nothing else. Tlie new giant (lying boats will be used for the now ocean routes over the North. South Atlantic, and the Pacific. These boats will contain ballrooms, staterooms, even bathrooms for passengers.