BRITISH FLYING BOATS

Evening Star, Issue 22277, 2 March 1936, Page 9

BRITISH FLYING BOATS

F&R EMPIRE SERVICES ELABORATE CONSTRUCTION Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 28. The elaborate construction of flying boats intended for Australian and other Empire services was disclosed' for the first time to-day. Short Bros.' works at Rochester will first commence trials about May. Twenty-eight more will follow at short intervals. The wing span, length, and maximum height will be 114 ft, 88ft, and 29ft respectively. There will be four engines each of' 740 horse-power, wing flaps enabling a descent at about 65 miles an hour, and 24 adjustable armchairs convertible into 16 wide sleeping bunks. The spaciousness and luxury of the interior decoration, on which the New Zealand artist Brian O'Rorke is advising, set a new standard in aircraft. The upper deck, on which two pilots and a wireless operator will be accommodated, includes a maij sorting room, while two stewards will attend to passengers accommodated in four connecting cabins on the lower deck. The passengers will individually control the lighting and ventilating. The exact routes across the Empire have not yet been decided, but confidence in the machines is indicated in the intention to fly overland to Marseilles. NEW IfIUEET COSTING £2,000,000. LONDON, February 29. (Received March 2, at noon.) Including 12 large land planes being built at Messrs Armstrong Whitworth's, the new Imperial Airways fleet is costing £2,000,000, while 2,000 men are engaged on the flying boat order.