FLIGHT OF “ROBOTO PILOT”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20058, 15 March 1935, Page 9

FLIGHT OF “ROBOTO PILOT”

AMAZING AVIATION PROGRESS

TO TACKLE LONG PACIFIC JOURNEY

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 14, 7.50 p.m.)

OAKLAND, March 13

An army aeroplane, equipped with a “robot pilot,” the description of which has been kept in complete secret, started a mystery flight into “nowhere” at dawn to-day to test its equipment. It is rumoured that the ’plane might be enroute to Honolulu. Previously the craft was subjected to short tests which were apparently satisfactory. In the present test 1600 gallons of fuel was carried. TRANS-PACIFIC FLIGHT LIKELY FINAL TRY-OUT OF ROBOT PLANE United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 14, 9.50 p.m.) OAKLAND, March 14. Officials explained that the robot controlled ’plane is on a final test flight, preparatory to a flight to Honolulu within a few days. A new type of compass director will be used. The present flight will extend far enough to pick up the radio beacons from Hawaii. If this is successful the automaticallycontrolled flight to Honolulu will be easily accomplished. Meanwhile, the Navy Department has authorised the Pan-American Airways to establish bases on midway Wake and Guam Islands. Thus it appears that the experiments with the robot are closely connected with the establishment of a trans-Pacific air service. The navy order stipulated that the bases could be taken over in the event of war.