AIR SPEEDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 9, 8 December 1937, Page 10

AIR SPEEDS

! 400 MILES AN HOUR. DEFENCE ASPECTS. LONDON, Nov. 25. Alough what speed war ‘planes might achieve within 10 years is a matter of speculation, designers believe that they could increase the present maximum rate of approximately 300 miles per hour attained by R.A.F. fighters, and 279 miles per hour attained by R.A.F. bombers. Even if their speed was increased by 100 miles per hour, in each class it does not follow that the Air Ministry would allow designers’ achievements to have sole sway in considering the defence policy, since speed is merely one of several important considerations in formulating policy for the R.A.F. It is generally supposed that designers may, within a few years, evolve a fighter capable of more than 400 miles per hour, which would not be surprising, technically, since that speed was exceeded by Flight-Lieutenant Stainforth’s successful attack on the world speed record when he piloted a racing super-marine S 6 seaplane at 407.5 miles' per hour. Even heavy flyingboats, which will undertake regular operation in the Empire air mail service to Australia, are capable of a maximum of 200 miles per hour. The Society of British Aircraft Constructors, Limited, informed a correspondent that a new monoplane, designed primarily for training military pilots, is capable of nearly 300 miles per hour, and that the Blenheim I bomber in large-scale production for the R.A.F., has a maximum speed of 279 miles per hour at a height of 15,000 feet, with a full load of fuel and oil, and the crew, and armament weighing almost 50001 b. An official of the Society ,of British Aircraft Construction, Limited, said: “Recently the air exercise devised to test London’s defensive system, provided an admirable illustration of the Blenheim ’plane’s formidable striking powers. Speeds of more than 300 miles per hour were attained almost instantly on a slight easing of the nose downhill, and Blenheim formations had little difficulty in eluding the swiftest and most pertinacious fighter patrols sent against them. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Major C. C. Turner says that be expects that by 1945 designers will have ceived fighters capable of a speed of about 400 miles per hour, but he adds: “Although a speed of 425 or 450 miles per . hour is foretold as the maximum attainable in the next few years, it does not follow that it will be desirable. Other considerations than those of designers will weigh with the air staff, who will decide what are the speed - requirements for the defence policy, which must be considered as a whole.” ■ Major Turner points out that about six or se.ven years is the life of a type as a standard equipment. The period may tend to , lengthen owing to the greater robustness of all-metal machines and the increasing cost of bigscale replacements. An Imperial Airways’ official said: “The latest reports confirm tlie statement that in connection with tlie development of plans of the United States Bureau of Air Commerce, a. sum slightly in excess of £1;000,000 is being earmarked for improvements in wireless, meteorologv, and other aspects of American airlines’ ground organisation.”