ACROSS THE PACIFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 153, 26 December 1936, Page 11

ACROSS THE PACIFIC

THE CLIPPER PLANES

AVOIDANCE OF RISK

A WELL-DRILLED CREW

(From "The Post's" representative.)

SAN FRANCISCO, December 2,

Two pilots are always. on the bridge of the Clipper aeroplanes that span the Pacific—a hop of 8400 miles from Alameda to Manila, with stops at Honolulu, Midway, Wake, and Guam Islands. Imperial Airways connect with the Pan-American at Manila for the 940-mile flight to Hong Kong.

The seven members of the crew, prior to taking off on the 2410-mile hop to Honolulu, perform three routine services—fire drill, emergency landing drill, and abandon-ship drill.

The captain takes post on the bridge —the cockpit. The steward is in the cabin, where the passengers will be. The navigating officer is at his station, manning a fire extinguisher. The flight officer, junior flight officer, radio operator, and engineering officer all take their fire stations.

For emergency landing, a member of the crew ''is'"stationed at each i door and bulkhead, with belts to strap each passenger in his seat. The passengers are distributed through the three cabins to balance the ship. From this position the crew practise abandoning ship. Life rafts and belts are inspected, rubber boats . prepared for inflation, emergency food and water supplies are examined,' emergency radio equipment is tested. The first officer, or senior flight officer, has already, some hours previously, weighed the Clipper's cargo, which is distributed throughout the aeroplane according to a definite formula. The captain approves or changes these dispositions, as he sees fit. . Prior to taking off the Clipper is given a two-hour test flight; which is the subject of a comprehensive report by the engineering officer, who signs a chart, giving the performance of each of the four engines. Weather charts are prepared and studied. The captain, in consultation with the navigating officer, has plotted his course, determined his altitudes, .and knows, to within a few minutes, when he will set his ship down on the waters of Honolulu Harbour. THE TAKEOFF DESCRIBED. We are ready to sail. Baggage has gone aboard—lslb to each passenger. Passengers are met at the hatchway by the steward, who tells them they may take seats anywhere they choose, for the moment. The hatch is closed, made fast and watertight. The junior flight officer joins the passengers in the lounge, and straps himself in. Passengers do likewise. At the controls are the captain and first officer. Behind them the radio operator is manipulating his dials and headphones. Below, on the deck forward of the lounge, the navigating officer is spreading his first chart. Outside,- mechanics and boatmen have cast off lines. A police. boat warns harbour craft to keep clear. : The Clipper taxies slowly into the harbour and. turns into position. The engineering officer takes out his stopwatch. He presses the stem as the captain opens the throttle. Slowly at first, then with startling speed, the 26-ton flying-boat goes into action. Within a few seconds she reaches fifty miles an hour. The 'structure begins to lift. There are bumps under the hull; hence the temporary strappingin. The Clipper climbs to the "step," breaks clear of the suction of the water, and takes the air, sixty seconds from the moment the master "gave her the gun." Presently, at 10,000 ft altitude, we are under way for the Orient, where we will' arrive on the fifth day.