COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Evening Star, Issue 17953, 26 April 1922, Page 10

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

WHAT BRITAIN IS DOING. Tho commercial aviation section of tho British Ad Ministry has supplied particulars of five of the most representative of tho British commercial aircraft at present in use, Tho notes, which describe machines that, have been actually engaged in the transport of passengers, mails, and goods, illustrate the extent of the development that is proceeding. Tho D.H.18 is a single-engine bipiano, which has limowine body with seats for eight passengers. For freight the space available is 255 cubic feet. Tho engine is a Napier-Lion, which gives 500 h.p. Fully loaded, tho D.H. 18 weighs 7,0001 b, of which about 1,9401 b is available for freight and) passengers. When on passenger service tho eight passengers are allowed about 5001 b of luggage. With this load the maximum speed is about 124 miles per hour at I,oooft altitude, and 120 miles at 5,000 ft altitude. Fuel is carried to last about three and a quarter hours, giving a range of about 400 miles. This machine accomplished the flight to Paris in about two and a-quartcr hours.

The Bristol ton-seater, which has just been completed, is a biplane, fitted with tho Napier-Lion engine, and having a cabin for eight passengers and an open cockpit for a pilot and mechanic. With a crow of two, and fuel and oil sufficient for a 400-milo flight, a commercial load of 2,0801 b out of a total weight of 7,1001 b can bo earned. Tho maximum speed it? about 120 miles pc-r hour, and tho speed at 5,000 ft altitude is about 118 miles, . Tho Vic-kcrs-Vimy is the commercial model of the well-known bombing type which flew across tho Atlantic and from England te Australia. It is a twin-engine machine, the engines being Rolls-Royce Eagles of about 360 h.p. each. A cabin i.v provided with seats for ten passengers. The maximum speed is approximately 103 inile.s per hour loaded to the maximum permissible weight of 12,5001 b. with a commercial load of 5.0651 b. It has a- speed of ninciy-scven miles per hour at I.CCOft altilndc, and eighty-seven milro cor hour nt 6.000 ft

The, Handky-Page W.B :o a. twin-engine machine, having Iwn Namer-Linn engines of 500 h.n. II has n cabin with seating capacitv for fifteen. The maximum permissible woiehl- is 12.5001 b. of which the commercial load rcrpicconts 2.2971 b. Loaded mi to the maximum, the maciiine. gave in the Air Ministry competition last year a maximum speed of 119 miles, and a. cruising speed of 88 miles an hour. Tho Viclccrs-Viking Iff. is an amphibious flying boat--i.c., capable- of landing with equal ca'C on land or water. It has been employed in experiments to determine the prastibiilty of using the Thames as an aerodrome, with satisfactory results, eove ra I (lights have been made between the Thames at" T.rndon and tho .Seine at Paris. Three passengers may bo carried in an open cockp:i. The engine is a Napier-Lion. The maximum speed is approximately 120 miles per hour, tho minimum spent s*. miles per hour, and tho cruising speed 82 miles per hour.

Several new types of Britidi cainmoroial aircraft, arc now in course of construction, some. of which will be introduced into the timtincntal service during the spring of 1522.