CRUISE OF FLYING BOATS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1927, Page 11

CRUISE OF FLYING BOATS

AN AIR FORCE EXPEDITION

EXPERIENCE IN LONG JOURNEYS. —• FLIGHT TO COVER 25,000 MILES. (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, Oct. 16. An important experiment in British aviation begins to-morrow, when four Royal Air Force flying boats leave Plymouth on a cruise to Singapore and Australia. The cruise, which wil) cover 25,000 miles, will occupy about 12 months, and it is probable that on ita completion a flying boat base will be stationed at Singapore. Tho object of the tour is to obtain experience in the problems involved when flying boats carry out extended independent cruise far from shore bases. It is also: hoped to gain'experience of the problems .connected with the reinforcing of points on the Imperial routes with a craft drawn from England or other parts of the Empire. The machines engaged are of the supermarine Southampton type. Each is fitted with two Napier-Lion engines of 450 horse-power. Group Captain Cave-Brown-Cave will command. Each boat will be manned by officers and two mechanics. The machines are of the standard Royal Air Force type, but with duralumin, instead of the usual wooden hulls, and with modifications in the arrangement of equipment. The use of duralumin instead of wood has made it possible to give more room for the crew, and it lias the advantage of avoiding water soakage, which seriously increases the weight with increased tankage. For this tour each flying boat weighs 8% tons. The ergws. will be .able to sleep and cook on board. Theyjiqve already, at Felixto'we, made the'experiment of staying on board -two or .'three days at a time. •' • ■