CONTROL BY ROBOT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 91, 15 March 1935, Page 7

CONTROL BY ROBOT.

AEROPLANE UNDER TEST. OAKLAND, March 13. An army aeroplane equipped with a robot pilot, the description of which is kept a complete secret, started on a mystery flight into “nowhere” at dawn to-day to test its equipment. Previously the craft was subjected to shoit tests which were apparently satisfactory. Some 1600 gallons of fuel are carried. Officials explained that the robot-con-trolled ’plane was on its final test flight preparatory to a flight to Honolulu within a few days. The new type of compass director used in the present flight will extend far enough to pick up the radio beacons from Hawaii. If this is successful an automatically-con-trolled flight to Honolulu will easily be accomplished. In the meanwhile, the Navy Department has authorised Pan-American Airwnys to establish liases at- Midway, Wake, and Guam Islands. It thus appears that experiments with, the robot are closely connected with the establishment of a trans-Pacific air service. The navy order stipulated that the bases could be taken over in the event of war. BRITISH AIR SERVICES. LONDON TOEDINBURGH. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 13. Daily air services between London and Edinburgh, via Leeds and Newcastle on-Tyne, will be operated from the beginning of next month by NorthEastern Airways. The company proposes to use Air Speed Envov bi-motor aeroplanes and, in view of their cruising speed of about 150 miles an hour, the journey between He.fton airport on the outskirts of London and the terminus m Scotland is expected to take two and three-quarter hours, including intermediate stops. The return fare between London and Edinburgh will be £lO, and the single fare £5 14s. both inclusive of ground transport between the centre of the cities and the aerodromes.