GREAT AIR ENTERPRISE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1927, Page 7

GREAT AIR ENTERPRISE

LENGTHY EMPIRE CRUISE FROM BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA FOUR FLYING BOATS LEAVE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Oct. 17. Four Empire flying boats departed from Plymouth for Australia at 9 o’clock in the mornirig. The- eea was smooth and it was raining. True naval precision marked the departure. On the- very strokd of nine o’clock they swept forward, each with a mighty furrow of white foam, and they left the water together in perfect -formation. Guns from the ships of the escort boomed in measured time. So brief and smooth was the start of this historic and significant enterprise that it might have been nothing: more than an electric train moving from a station. The boats looked spio ami span. The white hulls and wings arc ail identical, save for distinguishing rings forward. The flagship is minus a ring, and the others bear one, two and three rings respectively’. Each machine is fitted wit'll a standard Lion-Napiei engine, is capable of 85 miles per hour without wind, and has a new type of pump to allow refuelling from barrels at the rate of 300 gallons per hour.