AIR TRAVEL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23014, 4 October 1944, Page 8

AIR TRAVEL

“Changing Picture” Likely Post-war Planes

Types of aeroplanes commercial air lines will need alter the war have been outlined by Mr W. W. Davies, research engineer for United Air Lines, one of the major domestic carriers which has its Western Division headquarters at San Francisco Airport. “It is still impractical to attempt definitely to establish what aeroplanes a major transport operator or even a small transport operator Will use in the next five or 10 years, as the market picture, as well as the aircraft development picture, is changing too rapidly from day to day,” Mr Davies said.

He suggested six general types of planes th'it the air lines might be interested ~ in purchasing from the builders who were now producing America’s fleet of military planes. They are:—(l) An overocean transport, carrying 50 to 60 passengers as a sleeper, or 80 to 90 passengers during daytime operation, plus reasonable cargo space. Speeds would range from 225 to 250 miles an hour, with operating altitudes between 10,000 and 25,000 feet. (2) A domestic de luxe sleeper and day plane combination, accommodating between 30 and 35 sleeper passengers and 60 to 65 daytime passengers. Speeds would range from 275 to 300 miles an hour over flights of 700 to 1000 miles at altitudes of 10,000 to 20,000 feet. (3) A standard and day plane transport, carrying 25 to 30 sleeper passengers and about 60 daytime passengers on 400 to 750-mile flights at speeds from 250 to 275 miles an hour, at 10,000 to 20,000 feet altitudes. (4) A trunk line feeder plane carrying 30 to 35 passengers and 9000 to 10,000 pounds of cargo on flights of 150 to 300 miles a,t 200 to 225 miles an hour at altitudes ranging from 4000 to 12,000 feet. The plane would be equipped with moveable bulkheads to permit increase of cargo or passenger space as traffic requries. Working on “Designing” (5) An "off-line feeder" plane smaller than the trunk-line feeder plane, with a 200-mile an hour speed for trips of 50 to 200 miles. This plane should accommodate from 12 to 18 passengers. (6) A cargo plane with speeds ranging from 200 to 225 miles an hour. United Air Lines, Mr Davies said, is already at work “designing” the planes it will want for post-war operations. The work includes (1) a study of the basic arrangements desired for passenger planes, including food service, door and window location, and size and furnishings; (2) requirements and facilities of adequate cargo aeroplanes. including factors of high-wing loading, compartments and handling equipment; (3) cockpit, design and arrangement with consideration of simplification for the benefit of pilots and crewmen. Concerning the responsibilities of the designers. Mr Davies said: “The past history of the aeroplane’s rapid development and air transportation’s rapid growth are familiar. Both have been gained by courageous thinking, intelligently tempered by realism and hard work. This past growth, however, will be small compared with what the future holds, as long as those of us within those industries of aeroplane manufacturing and operation avoid overzealous and emotional thinking and build our foundation, still keeping our sights far ahead on sound and logical research and development.” One day round trip commercial air service to Alaska was scheduled for the first time in Seattle. Pan-American World Airways announced there that four days a week an air traveller will be able to fly from Seattle to Juneau in six hours, disembark for half an hour and return to Seattle the same night.