COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 50, 27 August 1937, Page 9

COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT

TRIAL FLIGHTS

THE SEPARATE COMPONENTS

(British Official Wirele«s.) RUGBY, August 25. The Short-Mayo composite aircraft 1 which it is proposed to employ in experimental transatlantic flights in the near future, is undergoing trial flights at Rochester. Successful tests of the lower component for the flying-boat, named Maia, having- already , been made, the upper component, Mercury, a four-engined float seaplane, will now, be tested in individual flights. After further trials of the two components separately the Mercury will be .attached to the wings of the flying-boat and they will ascend together as a composite aircraft. When the composite has climbed to a suitable height the locking mechanism securing the two components will be released and the seaplane will rise clear o| the flying-boat and proceed independently. ' . It is hoped by this method of nud-air launching ,that mail loads will be carried longer distances' non-stop and at greater speeds than by surface launching. Carrying 10001b of mails, ttie Mercury will have a range of 3500 miles at a, cruising speed of 160 to I"Ql The Pan-American Airways flyinfboat Clipper 111, which has been on a ■• survey flight from New York via the Azores,. arrived at Southampton from. . Marseilles this afternoon. The Clipper will remain at Southampton for ceveral days before returning to New York by the same route.