PACIFIC AIRWAYS
AMERICAN SCHEME ROBOT PILOT IN USE TESTS IN AEROPLANE HAWAII FLIGHT PLANNED NAVY'S CO-OPERATION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 14, 5.5 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, March 13 An Army aeroplane equipped with a robot pilot, the description of which is being kept a complete secret, started from Oakland, California, on a mystery flight at dawn to-day to test the equipment.
Previously the craft had been subjected to short tests, which apparently were satisfactory. It carried 1600 gallons of petrol. Officials explained that the machine is undergoing its final test preparatory to a flight to Honolulu within a few days.
A new type of compass director is being used. The present flight will extend far enough to pick up radio beacon signals from Hawaii. If this is successful an automatically controlled flight to Honolulu will be easily accomplished. The Navy Department has authorised Pan-American Airways to establish bases at Midway, Wake and Guam Islands, Thus it appears that the experiments with the robot pilot are closely connected with the establishment of a Pacific air service. The Navy Department has stipulated that the bases can be taken over in the event of war.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22059, 15 March 1935, Page 9
Word Count
192PACIFIC AIRWAYS New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22059, 15 March 1935, Page 9
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