Fast Aircraft for Atlantic Service

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 123, 26 May 1936, Page 7

Fast Aircraft for Atlantic Service

TRIALS SHORTLY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 23. The first test flights of the new fourenginnd monoplanes, two of which have ben ordered by the Air Ministry for experimental flights across tho Atlantic, are now expected to bo made towards the end of this year. When the aeroplanes have completed their performance trials they will be tried experimentally over the Atlantic.

The name of Albatross has been given to the new monoplanes, which have a maximum speed of nearly 250 miles an hour aud a cruising speed of over 200 miles an hour. Powered with four Gipsy ]2-cylindcr engines, each machine will have a gross weight of 25,000 pounds. Tho design embodies the latest devices for reducing drag. Tho engines are air-cooled and will be tho most powerful yet built by the "De Havilland Company. They incorporate lessons learned in the operation anrl servicing of tho smaller Gipsy engines which have been used for a great number of record flights, including Mrs. J. A. Mollison’s recent flights to the Cape and back.

London to Cape by Light Plane POSSIBILITIES DEMONSTRATED. (British Official Wireless.) Received Monday, 7 pan. RUGBY, May 23. Tho famous airman, H. L. Brook, who left Lynipne, Kent, on May 5, in a light aeroplane in order to demonstrate the capabilities of theso machines for long flights, arrived at Capetown at 11.30 this morning. He followed the East Africa route and the total distance covered waj SOOO miles.