ROUND-THE-WORLD FLIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23393, 7 January 1938, Page 3

ROUND-THE-WORLD FLIGHT

EMPIRE FLYING BOAT PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, Dec. 31. According to information received here, Imperial Airways is planning a round-the-world flight with an Empire flying boat. It is because of the plans for this flight that the proposed journey of the Centaurus from Auckland to Suva was cancelled. The flying boat Cambria is likely to be made available for the round-the-world flight. This boat is _ one of the two which is specially equipped for long-range work, and can fly non-stop for more than 3000 miles. The exact route has not yet been decided, but the flight will be the most advanced exploratory effort to date by Imperial Airways. After flying to Australia on a route yet to be decided, the boat would fly to New Zealand and from there make a survey of the Pacific Ocean to Vancouver. Flying across Canada, the boat would make another Atlantic crossing to complete its voyage round the world. . The possibility of the flight including an experimental crossing of the Indian Ocean from South Africa, with a view to establishing the feasibility of an alternative route between Australia and England, connecting East Africa with Western Australia, is also being considered. The boat would then proceed from Western Australia along the southern coast of Australia to Adelaide.

Another suggestion receiving consideration is that tha boat should make a southerly crossing of the Tasman from Hobart to Invercargill. to explore the commercial possibilities of the southern route. A probable advantage of this is that prevailing westerly winds would assist aircraft flying from Australia to New Zealand materially. It would mean that a circular route would have to be adopted, as the Auck-land-Sydney run would provide the most suitable route between New Zealand and Australia. Strong representations have been made by the Premier of Tasmania (Mr Ogilvie) that the Empire route should be extended to Hobart, and the Federal Government has undertaken to explore the possibilities. If it is found that the southerly route to New Zealand was more favourable it would increase the chances of the Tasmanian Premier’s representations being met. The flight across the Pacific would be a leisurely survey, with a view to establishing the most practical route for the trans-Pacific service, and, if - oossible. finding an allBritish line. At present it is intended to use the American base in Hawaii as the taking-off point for Vancouver. The use of this base is provided for in the agreement which permits Pan-American Airways Atlantic planes to use the British bases in Newfoundland and the Irish Free State. The flight across Canada would make use of the Canadian lakes for intermediate stops. The flight from Montreal to Southampton would follow the same course as that followed during the experimental flights in the middle of this year. Official details of the round-the-world flight will probably be issued in March, and the flight will probably take place in April or May By that time it is hoped that adequate servicing facilities will be available in Australia to enable the boat to be completely overhauled in Sydney before leaving on the Pacific section of the flight.

Imperial Airways have ordered 11 new flying boats, three of them as replacements and eight as additional equipment. This will bring the fleet of Empire boats to 36, in addition of the Qantas Australian fleet of six boats. As soon as replacements have been made it will be possible to release the Cambria for the round-the-world flight, provided Australia has in the meantime provided at least one major repair station where the boat may be slipped before taking off for the Pacific exploration.