SKY CLIPPERS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1934, Page 12

SKY CLIPPERS

R.A.F. FLYING BOATS

ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, October 11.

Throe clippers of tlio clouds —part of the Royal Air Force Flying Boat Squadron No. 203—reached Sydney this week after a memorable flight from Basra, in the Persian Gulf. They left later for Melbourne, -whore they will take part in the Centenary celebrations there. It was a great achievement that they should taxi to their moorings at St, Kilda at the time appointed six weeks ago. The flight of 10,000 miles had boon carried out without a hitch and strictly in accordance with, schedule over a'period of 35 days with 35 landings at strange ports en route. Australia lias as yet no flying boat squad-, ron, but in his report on Australia's air defences Air Marshal Sir John Salmond visualised a change of such squadrons, based on and operating from the magnificent chain of sheltered waterways extending round the north-east-ern coast of Australia. The flying boats so warmly welcomed this week are viewed by many as the forerunners of great fleets of similar craft that will some day dominate the Empire's communications. Extremely mobile, fast, self-contained, and armed with great offensive power in the form of guns, bombs, and torpedoes, each boat is equipped with jjowerful short-wave wireless, and forms a mobile communication station.

These flying boats have many remarkable, features, and even if the kettle has to be tied down to the stove, and the dinner plates dance about on the table, life- on board can be fairly comfortable. They are, in fact, metalwalled flats of the sky. Each flying boat, has a crew of seven, but there aro only six bunks, as one man is always on duty.

The boats aro of the "Rangoon" type, 75ft long with a 93ft wing-spread, find each has three 550 h.p. engines. They can remain in the air for 10 hours, and have a cruising speed of 75 knots, and a rango of 750 nautical miles. The crew comprises three pilot and navigator flying officers, two fitters, one rigger, and a wireless operator. One of tlio crew nets as cook. The accommodation is certainly rather cramped, but, as one officer put it, "You soon got used to that." The boats created a great deal of attention as they flow over Sydney before they made a. graceful landing in Farm Cove. They have the appearance of great strength, and (ho manner in which they stood up to their strenuous flight from Basra to Australia suggests stability ana power.