EMPIRE AVIATION

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 5

EMPIRE AVIATION

SINGAPORE TO AUSTRALIA.

REMARKABLE MACHINE.

London, May 22.

With the exception of the Dutch PostJager, the new de Haviland express airliner designed for the Singapore-Austra-lia route probably is the most graceful aeroplane in existence. The delicately-tapered wings of the machine and its cleanly streamlined fuselage give beauty and efficient performance. The andercarriat'e ia so carefully screened that it scarcely projects from the main line.

The aeroplane is a slight smaller edition of the Hercules class of air-liners, which have proved very comfortable and efficient on the London-Singapore route. It is roomy and well-ventflated, with ample gangway and eight armchairs upholstered in blue leather, and so arranged as to give plenty of leg rpace. The pilot has a better < utlook than in the other Imperial Airways machines, the slope of the windscreen preventing rain remaining on it. Other safety factors include the ability to maintain a height of 13,500 feet fully loaded, and with one engine out of action, while the aeroplane can remain at 3500 feet even if two engines fail.