CIVIL AVIAION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 August 1927, Page 5

CIVIL AVIAION.

EIGHTH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED

GREAT DEVELOPMENTS MADE

(British Afficial Wireless.) v RUGBY, August 25. To-uay the British air lines celebrate their eighth birthday. On August 25, 1919, the first British civil aeroplane, a Rolls-Royce converted warplane, made its maiden flight between London and Paris. This machine had accomodation for only two passengers and its single Rolls-Royce engine developed 365 hoise-power. To-day the latest triple-engined Wing de luxe air liners Silver of Imperial Airways carry 20 passengers with a horse-power of only .1200, or less than 60 horse-power per passenger. During these eight years, 10000 passengers have been carried across the Channel in British airplanes alone, the air liners flying a distance of nearly 7,000,000 miles. In the past four years the reliability and safety of air transport have been so well established that the airways are now a recognised means of transport for bullion and precious stones, bullion and specie to the value of approximately £30,000,000 having been carried bv air across the channel. In 1919 one service a day was run between London and Paris, but this summer there are six services in each direction between the two cities.