THE MERCURY'S FLIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23631, 15 October 1938, Page 13

THE MERCURY'S FLIGHT

ENGLAND TO THE CAPE EXPERTS VERY SATISFIED (British Official Wireless) RUGBY. Oct. 13. Aeronautical experts are very satisfied with the Mercury’s performance on her flight to the Cape, and in particular with her launching from the Maia, despite the fact that at the moment of her fe’ease every square foot of wing area was called upon to sustain 451 b and the weight and power ratio was 201 b per horse power—a combination of wing loading and power loading never before carried into the air. Persistent adverse winds robbed the Mercury of the record, as she was forced down owing to exhaustion of petrol, and there was inevitably some regret that the floats, each of which is capable of taking 600 gallons, was only loaded with 475 gallons. The Mercury was already carrying 70001 b more than on her transatlantic flight, and, although the experience of her last launch has shown that more ambitious starting loads may be allowed with safety, it was fully recognised that a programme of experiment by stages with the novel device of midair launching was the only prudent one. FURTHER FLIGHTS PLANNED (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Oct. 13. (Received Oct. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) The future programme of the Mercury is under consideration. It is suggested that she may make another survey flight with mails across the North Atlantic, resuming the project from which she was switched for the South African flight. She might again attack the long distance record. The third alternative would be a long journey well within her capacity over a route which has not been disclosed.