AIR SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 18335, 24 July 1923, Page 10

AIR SERVICES

STRIKING DEVELOPMENTS,

LONDON, July 9,

A special representative of the Sydney 1 Sun ’ lias been informed that Britain is cm the eve of epoch-making aerial developments, of which a huge landing station for amphibians on the side of f he Thames will be one of ihe minor _ representative accompanied an ifficial of the Air Ministry on an inspection of a possible site at ‘Frith Reach, where the largest machines could descend in any wind. Passengf-i? and mails would bo quickly transferred to speedy motor launches that would reach Westminster, in the heart of London, in thirty minutes In the event of finding no suitable stretch if water for descending, the pilots of the amphibians, by turning a gearwheel, will be able to lower a wheeled undercarriage from the false bottom of the boat-shaped hull, thus enabling the machine to land like an ordinary aeroplane at an adjoining aerodrome. Test flights have already boon made on the Continent.

.Amphibians which will “land” on the Seine and at various coastal ports, collect cargoes, and return to the Croydon Aerodrome, will be possible within four years. Hundreds of tons of perishable produce and mails from the Continent will be carried daily and larded on the Thames early in the morning, wuhiu a few hundred yards of Covent Garden markets and the Central Post Office.

It IS believed that the nsr of amphibians will greatly cxtei d Iho air services to the Conn non t, as the fear of fa I line into the Channel is at present one of the greatest deterrents to passenger flying. Future amphibians will be capable of riding out a Cbaxuioi storm. Experts think that Dio aircraft industry and air rou'es will eventually he con trolled by an international air board, ns forecasted by Mr Rudyard Kipling in his story 1 The Aerial Beard of Control. There is evidence that Continental nations are rapidly sinking racial prejudices m dealing with problems of fomevrcial air craft, and that the air will soon be made international for commercial machines. The British Air Ministry will send Squadron-leader A. Maclarcn and an official partv in 1924 tc attempt a flight round the world in an amphibian. SWEDISH AIR CONTESTS. LONDON. July 8. Sporting men arc angry at the German Government’s decision not to alio - ' 1 French airmen to take paat m the Gothenburg competitions to lly over Germany It' was decided in October to admit German civil airmen, and the Amo Club induced French airmen lo consent to meet them. Swedish airmen wished r.o bring together die former belligerents for a peaceful purpose on neutral ground, and they cannon understand whv Germany, which ban most, to gain by Vhe competitions, should frustrate their efforts

AMERICAN AIR DERBY. VANCOUVER, July 11. Airmen of all countries are mvi*ed to attend *ho International Aviation Derby, to bo held in connection with the American Legion Convention in Octoler The first prize will bo 2.500 dollars, and several trophies are offered. WOMAN FLIER’S FEAT. VANCOUVER, July 8. Mrs Bertha, Horshem, of St. Louis. Mis souri, who is a professional aviatrix, baa made an altitude record for women. Sho reached a height of. 16,300 ft. AIRMAN DIES IN FLAMES. LONDON, July 14. Andre Delamere, a young French airman, wis burned to death when hio aeroplane took fire after he ruse into the air. Ho descended at once, but was unable to get out in time. His mechanic was gravely injured