AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22889, 25 May 1936, Page 10

AVIATION

FOUR-ENGINED MONOPLANES INSTALLED WITH LATEST DEVICES (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telcsrnph Copyright) RUGBY, May 22. (Received May 25, at 5.5 p.m.) The first test flights of the new fonrengined monoplanes, two of which have been ordered by the Air Ministry for experimental flights across the Atlantic, arc now expected to be made towards the end of this year. When the aeroplanes have completed their performance trials they will be tried experimentally over the Atlantic. The name "Albatross" has been given to the new monoplanes, which have a maximum speed of nearly 250 miles an hour and a cruising speed of over 200 miles an hour. Powered with four G;psy 12-cylinder engines, each machine will be of a gr6ss weight of 25,0001 b. The design embodies the latest devices for reducing drag. The engines will be air cooled and will be I" ! most powerful yet built by the De Havilland Company and incorporate lessons learned in the operation and servicing of the smaller Gypsy engines, which have been used for a great number of record flights, including Mrs Mollison's recent flights to the Cape and back. EMPIRE DAY DISPLAY i MARRED BY THREE ACCIDENTS TWO FLYING OFFICERS INCINERATED LONDON, May 23. (Received May 24, at 8 p.m.) The Air Force's Empire Day display, in which 45 aerodromes and many flying schools were open to public inspection, and during which there were numerous bombing, acrobatic and parachute exhibitions, was marred by three accidents. A fighter participating in a low flying attack at Dover struck an electric cable and caught fire, the two flying-officers being incinerated. Dover's electric current was cut off. A fighter in an acrobatic display at Kenley was unable to get out of a spin and crashed, the pilot being severely injured. A civilian pilot crashed and was admitted to hospital at Shoreham. LONDON TO CAPETOWN CAPETOWN. May 24. (Received May 24, at 10 p.m.) The airman Brook, who left Lympne on May 5, demonstrating the capabilities of long-distance flights in a light plane, arrived, covering 8000 miles in 17 days from London.