ATLANTIC FLYING

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1937, Page 2

ATLANTIC FLYING

PREPARATIONS IN ENGLAND LONDON, May 19. The Under-Secretary of State and Air, Sir Philip Sassoon, revealed in the House of Commons ThFt a /fleet of British flying-boats, specially designed for transatlantic services, should be available m the course of 1938. That is the first official intimation of progress in development of the long-range marine air liners, considerably larger than the 18-ton Empire class monoplanes which are now going into service, that British designers consider essential i,n regular operation with reasonable pay load on long transocean routes. No details of these new craft may yet be published, but it is sign'ficant that Mr Gouge, chief designer of the Short Company, which is building tbe fleet of 28 Empire boats for Imperial Airways, has recently stated that no problems remain for sol Won in p.oclue tion of a boat of double the weight oi' the Empire boat—in round figures 80,0001 b. against 40,0001 b. He emphasised that in many respects the bigger craft would be super or. Tbe operation cruising speed of the new craft would be higher, about 180 miles an hour, compared with tbe 165 miles an hour of tbe Empire flyingboats: They would be even less susceptible to heavy seas when riding to moorings. .Take-off speeds might be as much as 100 miles an hour.