FIRST FLIGHT AS KING

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

FIRST FLIGHT AS KING

ROYAL FAMILY'S PLANE

TWIN-ENGINED MONOPLANE

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, August 14.

King George made the first flight since his accession when he used the neuj Airspeed Envoy monoplane, acquired lor urgent journeys by the Royal Family, for a visit to the boys' summer camp at Southwold. He was piloted by Wing-Commander E. H. Fielden, Captain of the King's Flight. The Eoyal Envoy is a Series 111, or 1937 model. The original Envoy was produced in 1934. It is a twin-engined cantilever low-wing monoplane designed for passenger and mail transport, and notable for clean lines and low head resistance. The Series 111 has "stressed skin" construction for the wings and tailplane, a form of building much simpler than the earlier girder bracing and* fabric covering. Slotted ailerons are fitted to improve control. The undercarriage units are retractible with two Siddeley Cheetah IX engines, each giving a maximum output of 350 h.p., the Envoy reaches its best level speed of 203 m.p.h. at a height of 8500 ft. Its cruising speed, using only 62£ per cent, of maximum power, is 170 m.pJi. at 10,000 ft. The service "ceiling" with full load is 22,000 ft, and single-engine "ceiling") 6250 it, Jt jveigbg .66.QQlb, . I