MODERN AVIATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22032, 12 February 1935, Page 10

MODERN AVIATION

IN BRITAIN HIGHLY PROSPEROUS STATE DEVELOPMENTS ABROAD ' FRANCO-GERMAN ENTERPRISE By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Keceived February 11. 10.85 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 11 The, air correspondent of the Daily Express states that the aviation industry is enjoying a boom. He has just completed a tour of the factories in Britain. Most of the firms are pledged to secrecy regarding sales to foreigners but it is evident that the industry is highly prosperous! Britain leads the world in baby aeroplanes. A message from Paris says the world's largest flying-boat has been successfully tested and will be used for the services between France and North Africa and France, Africa and South America. The machine weighs 37 tons unloaded and its lndl is doubledecked.

A despatch from Berlin says the Lufthansa Company is speeding up the air mails to three days from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro and three and a-half days from Berlin to Buenos Aires.

It was reported on November 8 that the largest flying-boat in the world was nearing completion at Toulouse for the transatlantic services. The machine is more than 100 ft. long, has a wing span of 160 ft., and a cruising speed of 150 miles an hour, with six engines, each of 850 horse-power. It is constructed almost entirely of metal, and will carry 70 passengers. There are 12 de luxe cabins* each with two bunks. The fly-ing-boat also carries a kitchen and a bar. It has special floats to enable it to ride the waves in the event of being forced down.

COMET AEROPLANES TWO ORDERED BY FRANCE TEST OF POSSIBILITIES (Received February 11, 6.5 p.m.) PARIS, Feb. 10 The Ministry of Air announces that it has ordered two De Havilland Comets, similar to those used in the Melbourne race, inr order to study their characteristics and technical devices and to test their possibilities for swift flights over great distances, both for mercantile and military aviation. The machines will first be used .as mail carriers across the South Atlantic.

MOLLISONS' MACHINE PORTUGUESE PURCHASE LONDON. Feb. 1

Portuguese pilots have arrived in England to take the Mollisons' Comet, used: in the Centenary air race, to Lisbon and prepare it for a flight across the South Atlantic.

Negotiations are proceeding for the sale jof the other two Comets. That flown by Scott and Black and owned by Mr. Edwards, may be sold to an English buyer. That flown by Mr. Ken Waller and owned by Mr. Bernard Rubins, may go to the Continent.