ACROSS AMERICA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22126, 4 June 1935, Page 11

ACROSS AMERICA

MODERN AIR TRANSPORT NEW ZEALANDER'S TRIP MR. G. B. BOLT'S EXPERIENCES Flying across America on his way to England to buy machines for Cook Strait Airways, Limited, Flight-Lieu-tenant G. B. Bolt, formerly well known in Auckland, has written to a friend in Christchurch detailing his experiences and giving an insight into the working of the highly-efficient transcontinental services.

Leaving San Francisco by a United Airlines machine for Los Angeles, a night flight of 360 miles was made in 1 hour 50 minutes, Mr. Bolt said. The Boeing machines used carry a stewardess who serves refreshments, folds and puts away coats and hats, supplies cigarettes, attends to bolts before and after landings and generally looks after the passengers' comfort. Mr. Bolt's only complaint on that portion of the trip was the sudden descent from 14,000 feet, which caused earache to a number of the passengers. Boulder Dam Seen At eight o'clock next morning the aeroplane took off for Chicago, via Salt Lake City. The weather was more or less cloudy and the height flown at was mostly 10,000 feet. After an hour's flying the machine came down to give the passengers a chance to view the enormous Boulder Dam, which was then nearing completion. The whole countryside, writes Mr. Bolt, presented a wonderful sight, being snow-covered as far as the eye could see. At Salt Lake City passengers were transferred to another machine. During this portion of the journey magazines, writing materials (postage free) and refreshments were supplied.

Continuing the journey eastward the weather was gradually becoming worse and visibility was poor. Chicago was reached at 2 a.m. in a blinding snowstorm Mr. Bolt referred to the hangars, which were open at both ends. The machines taxied under cover and then went/ straight on. Refuelling was also done under cover.

When flying east of Cheyenne aeroplanes were fitted with a device on the leading edge of the wings to check trouble caused by ice forming on the wings. The noses of the machines were also double-skinned owing to ice flying off the propellers like marbles. The following morning the journey was continued to New York, with a landing at Pittsburgh. Lunch Above the Storm Clouds

A wonderful example of the development of flying, he says, was to have lunch above the clouds in perfect sunny weather, although it was stormy beneath, the aeroplane running on its automatic pilot and steered by wireless beam. The only fault was that these machines had a slight continual yaw when being piloted by the automatic device.

This was owing to the single rudder not being in line with the engine. The yaw became fairly violent in rough air as it was approaching New York. Most of the passengers were feeling the effects of it and only just escaped air sickness. At New York Mr. Bolt boarded a Canadian Pacific liner for Liverpool, where he was being met by representatives of the Avro Company.