FLOATING AIRPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18063, 13 April 1933, Page 11

FLOATING AIRPORT

GERMAN ENTERPRISE SOUTH ATLANTIC BASE Some interesting demonstrations organised by the German Lufthansa Company took place in the Weser Estuary (Germany) last month. The Lufthansa Company chartered the German Lloyd steamer Westfalen (built in 1906), in order to convert her into a floating aeroplane base for the South Atlantic. Such conversion has now been carried out. A catapult installation similar to those on the Bremen and Europe was installed in the foro pan of the vessel, and a powerful crane in the aft part. By means of the crane the aeroplanes are hoisted on board and placed on a sliding track, where they are refuelled, overhauled and taken to the catapult. As the machines me hydroplanes, they cannot land on the deck of the vessel. .A special “drag sail" invented by Mr. Hein, of the Deschimog Company, is used to bring them within the radius of the crane. The “drag sail” Is dragged at the rear of the steamer and forms a smooth surface on which the machine can “land," after which the crane takes it aboard. The Westfalen will cruise in a strictly limited part of the Southern Atlantic. The demonstrations were intended to give experts and others some idea of the working of the ship and her installations. On the catapult plant there was a Dornier Wal machine, of the type which is to be used for the South American service. The catapult plant has a length of 42 metres and has a capacity of 14,0(10 kg. It is the largest of its kind. The weight of the aeroplane' was eight and a half tons, and the machine was sent off at an initial, speed of, lot) km. per hour. ‘ i ‘ EXPRESS' SERVICE • '

The demonstrations were successful according to programme, states “Fairplay. “ Prior to . carrying them out, Mr. Wronsky explained that the aim was to provide an express service to some countries with which Germany maintains close trade relations, such as South America. Subsequently, similar services are to bo operated to North America ami the Far East. On the North Atlantic it is. for th({ present impossible to establish aeroplane bases, owing to meteorological conditions; and for this reason the South- American service will be inaugurated first.. It is intended Jo rim mail services at fortnightly intervals. The distance to Rio de Janeiro is to be covered in four and that to Buenos Aires in five days. Land ’planes will be used to Cadiz, after which seaplanes will be employed via the Canary Islands to British Gambia, on the West Coast of Africa, and thence to the const of South America, via the Westfalen. , ■ The total distances is 3000 kilometres: and it is hoped that, by using the Westfalen ns an intermediary stopping place, it will be possible to cover it.