“SUPERWHALE” FLYING BOATS GREAT ADVANCE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6843, 22 February 1929, Page 8

“SUPERWHALE” FLYING BOATS GREAT ADVANCE

GERMAN CONCERN LEADING FIELD IN LARGE-SIZED PASSENGER TRANSPORTS.

Great speed records have been established by seaplane, and it is a seaplane ns well that holds the distinction of being the largest flying machine in the world.

It is to the German firm of Dornier that the title belongs, and while the machine which now claims to hold it—the Dornier “Superwal” or “Superwhale” —has been in active air line service for almost a year, it will soon bo superseded hv tho seaplane of evon more gigantic size which tho Dornier firm is now building at a special plant located near Lake Constance.

This new model, concerning which few details are as yet available, inasmuch as it will not be ready. for a test flight before late in the spring, is stated to bo equipped with no less than 12 motors and capablo of carrying 50 passengers. It is said on good authority that this new passenger piano will be so constructed that it will be able to weather exceptionally rough seas, anti will present in* addition a number of outstanding and distinctive characteristics

The Dornier “Superwal”

The “Superwal” is a monoplane, carrying 24 passengers and equipped with every modern improvement, safety device an'd convenience. Its builders call it the largest plane in regular service in the world.

It is the product of one of the greatest of all airplane designers, Dr. Claudius Dornier, who took over in 1914 tho firm originally established by Count Zeppelin. Dr. Dornier had for several years been a collaborator of Count Zeppelin, in designing the latter’s giant airships, and the firm of which he is tho head to-day has succeeded during tho last few years in taking its place in the very front row of airplane constructors. Dr. Dornier has specialised in the designing of all-metal airplanes, and the basic ideas evolved by him are considered in many parts of the world as typical for the construction of metal flying machines. Four Motored MonoplaneThe “Superwal” is a monoplane, equipped with four Jupiter motors of 480 horsepower. It is equipped to carry a pilot, an ass : «lant pilot, a mechanic, a wireless operator, and 20 passengers. This ship is built to flv at a maximum speed of 220 kilometers (136.70 miles) per hour. Its weight is 7000 kilograms (15,432 pounds), and the total weight it is equipped to carry is 15,000 kilograms (33,069 pounds). The dimensions of the giant airplano arc as follows: Width—2B 6 mpters (93.8 feet). Length —24.6 meters (80.7 feet). The. Dornier firm claims with this machine and its sister ships to have set up 47 new air records during the last three years. The Dornier plames ure in use on Tegular air line services in Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Italy, Russia, Brazil and Colombia, in addition to which they are doing service for military purposes in Italy, Spam, Holland, Jugoslavia, Russia, Japan, Argentine and Chile. Two Million Kilometers. The Dornier firm celebrated last month the successful completion of 2,000,000 kilometers (1,242,700 miles) of flying with their giant seaplanes of the “Wal” type. This record has been established' on two air lines, one of which is tho German Luft Hansa, and the other is tho Italian lino running from Genoa to Rome, Naples and Palermo. On each of these lines a total distance of 1,000,000 kilometers (621,350 miles) has been covered. Tho German line has used the Dornier machine between Stockholm and Dantzig, later on baking in also Stettin, Copenhagen and °' r fhe Italian line, which also claims to havo successfully accomplished 1,000,000 kilometers of flying with tho Dornier planes, is tho Societa Anonnma Navigazione Acrea of Genoa. This company conducts a regular air service from Genoa to Sicily by way of Rome and Naples, as well as two auxiliary lines between Rome and Tripoli and from Genoa to Barcelona, The outstanding feature of the record claimed by the Dornier firm is that tho 2,000,000 kilometers have been covered without a single casualty.