IMPERIAL AIRWAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22524, 15 September 1936, Page 9

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS

COMMUNICATION LINKS BREAKDOWN REVEALED (Received September 14, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. i 4 The Brindisi correspondent of the Daily Herald says the failure of the Imperial Airways machine Satyras to arrive there from Alexandria on Sunday morning reveals a serious breakdown in Empire air communications. Army officers under orders for Palestine and India, and civil passengers for Australia and Africa are tem-. , porarily stranded. It is officially 6tated that the Satyras was forced to return to Alexandria owing to engine trouble. She is the only available seaplane capable of crossing the Mediterranean in all conditions. This section of the Mediterranean service has been operated under very great difficulties for more than a year, Overhauls are done piecemeal owing to disorganisation and it is impossible to lay up a machine without a total interruption of the Empire services.

GIANT FLYING-ROAT

SUCCESSFUL TEST FLIGHT SECOND OF 29 ORDERED (Received September 14, 6.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Sept. 13 The giant flying-boat Caledonia, the second of 29 aircraft now being built for Imperial Airways' Empire routes, was launched at Rochester and underwent a test flight which was satisfactory. The flying-boat will be completed in time for her to leave on Monday for Felixstowe to be tested for a certificate of airworthiness.

It has rarely happened that such a big aeroplane has been ready for submission to the Air Ministry's tests within three days of her trial flight. The craft was handled easily on the water and took off quickly. , As the result of the flight the machine is regarded as ready for full load tests. The flying-boat Canopus, the first of the series, is nearly ready for her acceptance tests by Imperial Airways. The Canopus is regarded by her builders and by other experts as a model of what an efficient and luxurious flying* boat should be.

It is likely that a j-ear will pass before the flying-.boat service between England and Australia can be established on a regular basis. If the Commonwealth Government wishes, however^one of the new machines may visit Australia in the next few months on a special demonstration flight.

The constructor's trials of the Canopus were so successful that it was not deemed necessary to modify the design of later machines. The hull of the Canopus is fitted with a- double soundabsorbent skin, and is equipped with furniture for accommodating 24 passengers by day. There are 16 sleeping berths.

It is expected that the machines, in addition to nearly halving the time of the flight to Australia, will be able to fly in almost any weather conditions, with a range of nearly 1000 miles against a 40-inile wind. Most of the first batch will be used on shorter journeys, and the' results of the observations made will be useful for their ultimate extension to the Australian" service. The Canopus is to go on the Mediterranean section of the route to Africa and the East immediately after her trials. The Caledonia is specially fitted with long-range tanks in preparation for the forthcoming transatlantic service. One of her early trips will be a non-stop 2500 miles' flight round the coastline of Britain.

The third machine, the Cavalier, has been detailed for the New YorkBermuda service, which, in conjunction with Pan-American Airways, is inaugurating experiments. The next machine, the Cambria, will be placet' on the Mediterranean section of tin Empire route, and the one after that the Castor, will possibly go to Aus tralia.