AVIATION

Grey River Argus, 28 August 1937, Page 7

AVIATION

THE COMPOSITE CRAFT.

[British Official Wireless]. RUGBY, August 25.

The Mayo Composite aircraft, under construction by Short Bros., Ltd., Rochester, which it is proposed, to employ in experimental trans-Atlan-tic flights shortly, is undergoing trial flights at Rochester. Successful tests of the lower component, a four-motored flying-boat named Maia, have already been made. The upper component, Mercury, a four-engined float seaplanes, will now be tested in individual flights. After further trials of the tvyo components separately Mercury will be attached to the wing of the fly-ing-boat, and they will ascend together as a composite aircraft When the composite has climbed to a suitable height, the locking mechanism securing the two components will be released, and the seaplane will rise clear of the flying boat and proceed independently. It is hoped by this method of mid-air launching, that mail loads will be carried for longer distances non-stop, and at greater speeds than by surface launching craft. Carrying a thousand pounds of mails, Mercury will have a range of 3500 miles at a cruising speed of 160 to 170 miles an hour. ATLANTIC TRIALS. (Received August 27, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 27. The flying boat Cambria left Foynes, Ireland, Botwood (Newfoundland) at 5.39 to-day. (Received August 27, 9.20 p.m.) QUEBEC, August 26. Interviewed on arrival from England Sir Thomas Gardiner said that a regular anglo-Canadian air mail service is unlikely before 1939. The test flights up to the present had been most successful, but much exploration work remains to be done.