BRITAIN’S FAST AIRCRAFT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21085, 11 July 1938, Page 7

BRITAIN’S FAST AIRCRAFT

NON-STOP FORMATION RECORD Amazing Performances in the Air United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, July 8. The Air Ministry has announced a secret i ecord non-stop formation flight by four Royal Air Force Vickers-Wel-lesley machines from Cranwell Aerodrome to Ismalia, a distance of 4300 miles at an average ground speed of 135 miles an hour.

The first news of the flight was given out after the landing at Ismalia.

The formation left Cranwell at 4.15 a.m. (British standard time) on Thursday and landed at 12.10 p.m. (British standard time) to-day.

The machines flew to a point between Koweit and Bahrein and thence westward to Ismalia. The average height maintained was 10,000 feet and good conditions were experienced throughout the flight.

Progress was reported regularly by wireless and there was also continual inter-plane communication. “The News-Chronicle” says that this flight has paved the way for a nonstop flight from Cairo to Sydney which, it is understood, is being attempted in the autumn.

Although 4300 miles is a new record fc: a bomber formation, It is known that the Vickers-Wellesleys are capable of flying considerably further without refuelling.

MORE AMAZING FLIGHTS FINE PERFORMANCE IN BAD WEATHER United Press Association—By Electric Telearnoh —Copyright (Received July 10, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 9. Another formation flight record was established last night, when eleven Royal Air Force Hurricane Fighters flew 235 miles in adverse weather from Northolt (Middlesex) to Le Bourget in 1 hour 6 minutes. In all eighteen 'planes made the journey. They were eleven Hurricanes, which are the Air Force's fastest fighters, four Gloucester Gladiator, two Avro Anson Aircraft, and a Valentia troop carrier. TRAINING OF PILOTS FOR BRITAIN BIG SCHEME IN CANADA United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received July 10, 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 8.

The possibility of the establishment in Canada, of a huge supply training base for the British Royal Air Force, in order to remove a great section of military aviation from England’s geographical vulnerability, is indicated with the disclosure that the Air Mission, on its recent visit, sought to induce American aircraft manufacturers to establish a Canadian plant, on the guarantee to buy a thousand ’planes, says “The New York HeraldTribune.” The plan is reported to have advanced sufficiently in diplomatic and military discussions, that the expenditure of a billion dollars by Britain is regarded as probable. The undertaking would embrace not only factory aerodromes, but a training field that would be in constant use to develop pilots to man 5000 R.A.F. ’planes, which would be permanently based in Canada.