CLIPPERS OF THE SKY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21937, 22 October 1934, Page 12

CLIPPERS OF THE SKY

THREE FLYING-BOATS ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA [from our own corrkspoxdext] SYDNEY, Oct. 11 Thi'ee clippers of the clouds —part of the Royal Air Force Flying Boat Squadron No. 203—reached Sydney this week after a memorable flight from Basra, in the Persian Gulf. They left later for Melbourne, where they will take part in the Centenary celebrations v tbere, and it was a great achievement that they should taxi to their moorings at St. Kilda at the time appointed six weeks ago. The flight of 10,000 miles had been carried out without a hitch and strictly in accordance with schedtde over a period of 35 days, with 35 landings at strango ports en route. Australia has as yet no flying boat squadron, but in his report on Australia's air defences, Air Marshal Sir John Salmon visualised a change of such squadrons, based on and operating from the magnificent chain of sheltered waterways extending round tho northeastern coast of Australfa. The flying boats bo warmly welcomed this week are viewed by many as the forerunners of great, fleets of similar craft that will some day dominate the Empire's communications. Extremely mobile and übiquitous, fast, self-contained and armed with great offensive power in the form of guns, bombs and torpedoes, each boat is equipped with powerful shortwave wireless and forms a mobile communications station. These flying boats have many remarkable features, and even if the kettle has to be tied down to the stove and the dinner plates dance about on the table, life on l board can be fairly comfortable. They are, in fact, metal-walled flats of the sky. The dance of the dinner plates is performed whenever the boats are in motion owing to tho enormous engine vibration and to "rocky air." Tho kettle is tied down with wire to keep it from jumping off the fuel stove in the elaborately-fitted kitchen amidships. On each flying boat there is a crew of seven, but there are only six bunks. It is explained that one man is always on duty. One defect is that there is no bathroom, but the boats are usually iu port over-night, so tho inconvenienco iis scarcely noticed by the crew, which has become accustomed to taking a dip in, whatever harbour the flying boats may be sheltering. The boats are of the "Bangoon" type, 75ft. long with a 93ft. wing spread. Their power is drawn from three 550 horse-power engines. They can remain in the air for 10 hours and have a cruising speed of 75 knots and a range of 750 nautical miles. The crew comprises three pilot-and-navigator flying officers, two fitters, one rigger and a wireless operator. One of the crew acts as cook. The accommodation is certainly rather cramped, but, as one officer put it, "You soon get used to that." The boats created a great deal of attention as they flew over Sydney before they made a graceful landing in Farm Cove. They have the appearance of great strength, and the manner in which thev s'tood their strenuous flight from Basra to Australia suggests stability and power.