FOR EMPIRE SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1937, Page 12

FOR EMPIRE SERVICE

DETAILS OF THE CRAFT

•Twenty-nine-flying-boats were ordered by Imperial Airways, and the Canopus, the first of them to be completed, entered upon regular service in the Mediterranean about five months ago. The remainder were to be ready at intervals '• of- about three weeks, and it was expected that the whole fleet would be built by the enfl of this year. The-flying-boats, are intended for the new Empire service, including the link with Australia. The wings are loaded more heavily than those of previous flying-boats, giving the new craft greater stability and enabling them to'withstand the most severe wind and water strain when riding at moorings. Each boat is to be equipped with four Pegasus air-cooled engines of 7^o h.p., i and' the top speed is about 200 miles per hour/ and the cruising speed from . 150.t0 160 miles per hour. The flyingboats are monoplanes of all-metal construction, and - are of. the high-wing unbraced, type with wing-tip floats. In'the. Canopus there is a special compartment for the . radio operator behind the pilots' cabin occupied by the captain and first officer. The smoking cabin, with accommodation for seven passengers during the day and four. ■at night, is placed under the pilots' cabin. Behind this are the kitchen and the washrooms, and, level with the'floats, the midship cabin with accommodation: for three passengers during the day and four at night. Further back is the promenade cabin hold-ing-eight'day'and four night passengers, and- then cornea the after-cabin holding ,six day and four night passengers. Mail, freight, and ■ baggage is stowed away ; behind this and also in j a compartment behind the radio opera- j . tor's, cabin where the ship's clerk works.