MAYO AIRCRAFT SUCCEEDS

Southland Times, Issue 23443, 25 February 1938, Page 7

MAYO AIRCRAFT SUCCEEDS

New Zealand Pilot In Trial Flight BAD WEATHER TESTS YET TO BE HELD (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 24, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 23. The Mayo composite aircraft made a successful official demonstration flight at Rochester when the upper component separated and climbed easily away from the carrier flying-boat at 700 ft. A New Zealander, Pilot-Officer Piper, piloted tire smaller aeroplane, the Mercury. Captain Parker, who was in charge of the Maia, said: “When we parted all I felt was a sudden lurch downwards. It was quite easy. I am sure we will do it safely under any flying conditions. There is no danger of the machines fouling. There wps a minimum stress in the parting of 50001 b, one aeroplane straining upwards and the other downwards at. the moment of release. They just leapt apart. “Pilot-Officer Piper has no control over his machine while it is locked, but as soon as they part he finds himself flying upwards with the controls easy and everything set to perfection.” Pilot-Officer Piper said it was a perfect take-off..

CENTAURUS RETURNS TO SOUTHAMPTON SURVEY OF EMPIRE ROUTE ENDED (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, February 23. Several hours earlier than expected the Imperial Airways flying-boat Centaurus reached Southampton on its return from New Zealand.' Since the flying-boat left Southampton on December 3 it has flown 30,000 miles on the survey route for the regular flying-boat services between Southampton and Sydney which are to start early mis summer, and for the extended air mail route from Sydney to Auckland, which is expected to be established a year later. Inaugurating an air mail of ljd from India to Malaya, the Imperial Airways flying-boat Centurion left Southampton with five tons of mall. It is intended that there should be four mails a week from England, two continuing to Singapore pending the opening of the Australian service. DELAY IN TRANS-TASMAN SERVICE PROBABLE MELBOURNE, February 24. After statements by Newj Zealand commercial pilots that there is no possibility of a trans-Tasman flying-boat service within two years, the Minister of Defence (Mr H. V. Thorby) admitted that the new boats designed for the service might not be ready before 1939. There would be no services until these were ready. There was no possibility of the Government co-operating with New Zealand to establish a temporary land aeroplane service, said Mr Thorby.