OCEAN AIR-HALTS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1927, Page 4

OCEAN AIR-HALTS

(By Harry Harper). “All change-—in mid-ocean!” This sounds rather a disconcerting order, yet it is one we are promised before long. American airway experts, who have been meeting French technicians in i’aris to examine the problems ol Atlantic air services by multi-engined flying-boats,' are now discussing the details of ocean stations, or halts, at which air-boats could descend to refuel, and where passengers would lie able to alight and stretch their legs and, if required, change in midocean to the craft of soma other route. It should he a thrilling experience for voyagers to glide down to one ol these ocean stations which, illuminated brilliantly at night, will shine across vast expanses ol water, '. -d find out there, floating upon the ocean, luxurious waiting-rooms, bullets, and all the amenities of travel. The technical problems now being reviewed are many and complex. A number of designs have been prepared for Atlantic refuelling stations. In a plan favoured bv experts the structure assumes the shujm ol an encumous horse-shoe, the* idea being that between the. two curved, projecting arms would be sheltered water upon which tho flying boats could float while taking on hoard fresh petrol.

One scheme in which a huge structure like an artificial island is protected against ocean gales by great curved breakwaters, goes as iar as to provide a small ’but completely equipped hotel, in which ultra-modern travellers could experience the novel sensati onof going to sleep at night, just as if on land, out somewhere in tho middle of the wide Atlantic.

'Naturally the mooring problem is one of the most complex, having regard to the immense depth of water which, in certain cases, may have to be reckoned with. Some ingenious systems ~f deep-water mooring Have been proposed, while in other schemes it is planned to dispense with mooring, the structure being power-driven as it rests on the water by special engines. these driving a system ol submerged screws which are intended to maintain the stations always in one position head-to-wind.

The fundamental purpose of these fascinating schemes is entirely practical. If an ocean living-boat service j„ to he i really commercial proposition, it is essential that a reasonably large paying load should he carried in addition to tho weight of fuel necessary for the engnes.

If, however, an Atlantic flight has to bo win do non-stop, the petrol burden may be so groat as to negative any hope of a remunerative commercial load, unless extremely high tales are charged. Assume, though, that a mug ocean air journey can bo divided into stages, with refuelling points at regular intervals, obviating the necessity for loading a machine at starting with petrol for thousands of miles cl non-stop, and the prospects of commercial success become much brighter. ffence the attention now being paid to projects for those ocean halts. They might, it is suggested, be established and maintained by some 1o» - m of cooperative action between nations.