UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 10

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

THE NEW BOEINGS

FORTY-TON MACHINES

Details of the 40-ton Boeing "SuperClippers" which are to be used, on the service between America and New Zealand by Pan-American Airways were published" in the April issue of the "Pan-American Airways Magazine." At that time it was intended mainly that they should be used on the,transatlantic route. They are at present under construction by the Boeing Aircraft Company, and the first will be ready- in January. They will not be used on this route until March ,or. April.

"Contracts for the new flying-boats were let by Pan-American Airways nearly a year ago following the international conference in Washington at which understandings were reached between the United States and Great Britain for the establishment of transatlantic air services," states the journal. . , ~ "Because many of the remarkable features of the new ship's recordbreaking capacity and performances were bound up with a 1500' horse-power Wright Cyclone engine whose-fea-tures were held confidential until recently, no details of the new Clippers have been hitherto available.

TWICE THE SIZE OE THE , SIKORSKY. \ "Designed,especially for transatlantic transport operation and equipped with a 6000 horse-power: power'plant, ffie huge ocean airliners will weigh between 40 and 50 tons and be the S£st practical transport aeroplanes ever developed. _ "While even now many specified* Predecessor Clipper ships which now fly Sween North and South America Sd across the Pacific to the Phahppines.' The new Boeingsfhowever, are approximately twice the size of the big sforsky type.Clippers, and half!again as large as the Martin type Clippers, which are at the present time the largest transport aeroplanes in the, world. "An indication of the size of the big flying-boats was contained in^ a statement of the Boeing engineers that they have, a capacity for 72 passengers and a crew' of eight. Cargo holds will carry in addition, 50001b of cargo. The speed to be developed by the 6000 horse-power engine plant, according^ the estimates, will -be close to 200 miles per. hour. ARRANGING OF ACCOMMODATION. "Based upon the experience PanAmerican Airways has accumulated over the past ten years in over-water flying, particularly in the two years in which their Clipper ships have logged better than a million miles of flying over the Pacific Ocean, the big boats will have many features never heretofore incorporated in aeroplanes. The giant boats will have three decks. The flight bridge, with posts for six flying officers, will be located on the top deck, beneath the huge wing. Back of the bridge, and the captain's compartment, and within the very wing itself, >are sleeping and living quarters for the crew, including a separate galley. Aft of the officers' quarters is a big cargo compartment, itself larger than the cabin on present-day overland transports. "For the first time in aeroplane construction, access is provided to the mechanical plant and to each of the four engines from the companionway in the air liner's giant wing. "Running the length of the ship, beneath the flight deck, is the main deck on which the passenger cabins are located., These will include, in addition to regular cabins, private staterooms, both fore and aft, and a dining and lounge cabin. Forward on this deck is the galley which will be equipped with all facilities for cooking. Hot and cold running water will be available throughout the ship. RANGE OF 5000 MILES. "The, third deck, or hold, where heavy cargo will.be carried, is a series of perfectly water-tight compartments running the length of the ship. Fuel tanks capable of carrying a normal supply of 5000 gallons of gasoline—ls tons —are located in the wings and the sponsons, or 'sea wings.' Indications are that the new Pan-American .superClippers will have a cruising range of nearly 5000 miles. "The engines will be double-row 14----cylinder Wright Cyclones of a new design. While no details concerning engine performance could be given out, engineers stated that they would be 'nearly twice the size' of the big engines which power present Clipper ships.

"As a result of years of constant refinement and development by Wright engineers, they once more establish a mark of achievement far ahee3 of the progress in radial aircraft engine design ever approached in any other country. Accessible as they will be to the flight engineer, they promise to set a new standard of power plant reliability as well as output."