TRAMP SHIP OF THE AIR.

Grey River Argus, 12 January 1928, Page 2

TRAMP SHIP OF THE AIR.

FLYING OFFICERS’ VENTURE. LONDON, January 10. Officers Newell and Vincent, accompanied by a mechanic and photographer, left Staglane aerodrome in two three-seater Siddeley aeroplanes, for Singapore, via Marseilles, Brindisi, Athens, Mesopotamia India, Burma, Malay States, taking a woman passenger, Mrs. Wise-Parker, as far as Cairo. The flight is a free lance venture, with the object of a general reconnaissance of civil flying prospects. The exploitation of the possibilities of air survey by means of aerial photographs, collection of flying data, stimulation of interest in aviation by means of lectures, and the demonstration of the use of aircraft in spraying crops on mosquito infested waters. The pilots intend to pick up passengers and special cargo, and become a sort of “tramp” ship of the air as opportunities offer, operating chiefly in India, Burma, Ceylon and Malay States.

Trans-Atlantic Flight. AIRSHIP SOLD TO M.P. LONDON, January 10. The Airship RlOO is to be sold to a company which Mr. Burney, M.P., is organising for experimental transAtlantic flights, prior to forming a seven million sterling company to run a regular service between Britain Canada and the United States, crossing England to North America in 48 hours and back in 38. Burney explains that the airship mai l surcharges will be 6d. per ounce for letters, and 2s. per lb for parcels. Passengers’ fares will be £l2O in single berth, and £lOO in two-berth. There will be eight fourberth cabins. If the RIOO’s flights succeed, it is proposed to build a new vessel of larger and faster type, with a maximum speed of 100 and a cruising speed of ( J 5 miles’ an hour. The cruising endurance will be G4OO miles, carrying 168 passengers. ENDURANCE FLIG-HT. SAN FRANCISCO, January 10. The supervisors of Mills field air port have ordered the board runway to be lengthened to 750 feet, in preparation for Smith’s coming attempt at an endurance record flight, which is planned to commence within a few The ’plane has been Overhauled, and the petrol capacity increased.