IMPERIAL AIR SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18461, 26 July 1923, Page 7

IMPERIAL AIR SERVICE.

GOVERNMENT'S , POLICY, i MODIFICATION O F SCHEME. •TRIAL STAGE TO EGYPT. By Telcffraph--Press ■ AssociationCopyriizht. (Received 7.30 p.m.) • A. and N.Z. • LONDON. July 24. It is expected that the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Bald .will make a statement in the. House of Commons to-morrow on Commander Burney's Imperial air service scheme. "'Z:A\y\ The Morning Post understands thb.fc the scheme to which the Cabinet has assented shows a : slight .■ modification of Mr. Burney's project. : The experimental stage ■will extend only to Egypt. If the proposition promises' commercial possibilities it will bo extended to India and afterwards to Australia.. .* ' Government assistance will expand with the expansion of the service. : •

v LONG-DIS'EANOE AEROPLANES. I TYPES FOR IMPERIAL SERVICE.: It was recently announced that the British Air Ministry intended to invite aircraft firms to design and build experimental aeroplanes for long-distance services. Three types are called for :— X. An aeroplane with a single engine for transport in Europe. 2. An aeroplane for • transport in the Middle East. - ' . 3. A three-engined machine for Imperial communications. ' ' * i Thus the thresj stages—Croydon to Egypt, Egypt to India., and India •to . Australiawill be provided for. . The most notable feature of the specifications is the attempt to achieve safety and reliability on the second and third stages by the use. of three engines in a machine. At the last Air Conference Sir Geoffrey Salmond, air member for supply and research, expressed the opinion that this arrangement was the best way to avoid forced landings. The first, or European, machine may be driven by any approved , of British engine, only one engine, oeing allowed. The machine must have a crew of two, but the actual number of passengers will naturally depend upon the engine chosen by the designer and the general design of the machine. The ■! only stimulation made is that one ton of . passengers and baggage must be carried for every 400 h.p. The cabin of the machine must be easily convertible into an.ambulance. The aeroplane must be able to float for a considerable time on calm water. It must, carry fuel for a flight of three and a-half hours at 100 m.p.h. Its speed must range from 110 m.p.h. at a . height of 3000 ft. to a landing speed of 45 miles an hour.

; v Middle East Machine. ' The aeroplane for the Middle East is not required to be used as an ambulance, though it is on" record that the life of an important sheikh was once saved by flying him to Bagdad for an appendicitis operation. The aeroplane may have one ,or three engines (the i-'.ystem of two engines is wisely debarred),' but the total horsepower is not to exceed 1000. This Middle East machine must be specially designed to withstand great variations of temperature and humidity, and metal construction is considered preferable, though not essential. The machine will have a crew of two, and must accommodate not- less than eight passengers, allowing 2361b. per passenger with his baggage. Elaborate arrangements for the comfort of the passengers are required. A fan must drive air through a screen down which water will constantly drip, an ; ice chest must be carried, and there must be cooking arrangements, as well as a supply of' drinking water. Long .flights are contemplated, and the machine must be. able to fly for 500 miles at full throttle at a height of 10,000ft-.' against a wind of 30 m.p.h. The top 'speed at. thjit height must be 95 m.p.h, the landing, speed 45 m.p.h-, and the machine must pull up in '2CO yards. j : Requirements of Imperial type. '• - ; ' The machine for Empire communication? must have three engines,"all!of one type, and a total of 2100 h.p. is allowed. > The : machine mast be able to fly level carrying three-quarters of its disposable load on two of the enjrines. . The top speed at a- height of 10,000 ft. need not bo above 90 m.p.h., and - a .landing . speed of ; 50 is allowed, provided that the V'erordane;pnlls , up in 200 yards. v The provisions for cooling, etc., are similar- to those -V. of ■ the Middle : East. machine.y ; The Empire machine will carry, a crew of ' four, - and sleeping accommodation must be provided for two of them. Passengers will be allowed less baggage, than , in > the Mia die East by 261b. each. . The - specification says that as many passengers a? possible f (in proportion to tue horse-power) "are to be carried. Petrol must be taken for a flieht of 1300 ; miles at a height of : 10,000 ft. against a wind of 15 m.p.h. - ;-,k i In the ' case of all V three types, metal propellers must be used, ' and the engines must be silenced. All tanks must be selfsealing, unless' they are placed; tinder, the tf-p. planes in such a position that any escaping petrol: will be blown > clear 'of the machine. . These last provisions will- greatly minimise, the danger oil fire. . ' * ; - '