OCEAN FLIGHTS

Opunake Times, 16 August 1938, Page 3

OCEAN FLIGHTS

AMERICAN MACHINES HUGE CLIPPER HEADY For the first- time in the history of transport, aircraft, the engines will be. accessible during _hts, in, the case of the 74passenger, four-engined Clipper areonlane now undergoing tests on Lake Washington, near Seat lU» This will he effected by means of a cat-walk through tho leading edges of the wings, which have a span of 152 feet.

Some of the. features of eonstiuction of the new flyingboats, are being carefully guarded, because of advanced development. Among them are the 1500-horse-power Wright Cyclone engines, the laigest aircraft en-

gines yet constructed. They are a development of the "twin-row" principle of banking two radial engines together. They are said lo be twice as powerful as the single-row Cyclone engines, that drive many of America's largest transport air liners. n«w in service While rated at 1500 horse power, the quartettes can develop not merely 6000, but a total of 8000 horsepower for the take-off. The passenger capacity is 7<l for normal-range flights, and 58 for the longest over-water stretch on either the Atlantic or the Pacific, or approximately five times the number carried in present Pacific aeroplanes. The maximum range is 6500 miles, which would enable the new Clippers to fly non-stop from New York to London or Lisbon, oi San Francisco to Wake Island, half-way to Hongkong, [t is planned to make intermediate .stores that will permit the ships to carry 40 to 50 across either ocean.

The accommodation on the ' lower of the two decks is the most luxurious yet designed. Six passenger cabins, with lounge .seats for each, a private honeymoon suite. n large dining lounge, galley and serving pantry, and separf*£e dressing-room" for men and women are on thi* Heck. On the flight deck above ar* 1 the bridge and engineering stations, occupying a space as large as the entire cabin of the present h-iiiiscontinental air liners, and with posts for captain, first oilieer. navigating officer, enginevinj? officer and radio operator. Aft of the centre section are the

living quarters of the Hi members of the ui'QW. TJie centre section of the wing encloses a storage hold, with, compartments for two. and a-hali tons of mail, express and passenger baggag#.