TO CARRY PLANES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3175, 28 September 1942, Page 6

TO CARRY PLANES

GIANT SKY PLANE-CARRIER PROPOSAL IN UNITED STATES Designs for a flying aircraft-car-rier were submitted to a United States Senate sub-committee investigating aii- transport recently. The proposed carrier could also be used l for carrying cargo, its designers, Messrs H. C. Young and E. Langlands, engineers, of the Aerodynamics Research Corporation, explained. They said the carriers would be lifted from the ground and propelled by a combination of engines, helium gas (non-combustible and lighter than air), and air tunnels. Its single wing would form a flight “deck” of 200 by 180 feet, from which 12 fighters could take off when the carrier was at speed. It would carry sufficient helium to lift 36 tons, and also using its engihes, it could lift 70 tons.

The chairman of the War Production Board, Mr Donald Nelson, said that the board was very interested in the proposal of Mr H. Kaiser, noted constructional engineer, to build 5000 giant cargo aircraft , in West Coast shipyards. He said that if engines and other’ components were needed they could be built without disrupting the military aircraft programme. Mr Kaiser “will get plenty of action,” he said.

Mr Nelson told Mr ’Kaiser that the board was ready to co-operate to the limit in any practical plan for increasing the effectiveness of war transport.

The Curtiss Wright Co. has announced that it has reached the mass production -stage in making the giant twin-enginer transport aircraft type C 46, named the Commando.

It can carry parachute or ground troops, with jeeps and other mobile equipment.

Two 'Pratt and Whitney engines, each of 2000-h.p., give the Commando a speed approaching that of war aircraft that have crossed the Atlantic in nine hours. Its speed and cai’go capacity are said to be much greater than any similar 'German type. It can accommodate artillery, tractors, trucks, engines, oil drums and other supplies.

It has specially designed ramps to allow heavily armed troops with jeeps to disembark within a few seconds.

Thirty-five Commandos could have carried the 30,000 tons of materials which 77,000 trucks transported over the Burma Road in a month.