AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16558, 18 October 1921, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

NEW TYPE OF SEAPLANE. fn view of the fact that the defence of the South Pacific is jit present- under consideration both in England and the dominions, the activities of the Australian authorities in this direction is of particular interest to New Zealand. Details of the- type of seaplane which it is intended to use in Australia fur defence purposes have been given in a Melbourne exchange. The first squadron. comprising six machines, will arrive in Australia shortly. They are of the latest Fairey lIID class. fitted with 375 li.p. “Eagle” Rolls-Royce engines, which arc also used by the eea-goir- section of the Royal Air Force. Each seaplane- has a crew of three—pilot, gunner. and wireless operator—and carries guns, ammunition, wireless apparatus, bombs, and sufficient petrol for a flight of 550 miles at 100 miles an hour. There are folding wings, to facilitate storage. To suit Australian conditions, the wings, fuselage and tail have been coated with aluminium varnish to cut off the active rays of the sun, which otherwise would cause the fabric to deteriorate. The floats aro enamelled white, the idea being to keep down the internal temperature of the floats. When the first of these seaplanes was tested in England an expert said that “the aluminium machine, with its white floats and black interplane struts, is certainly the prettiest thing one has seen in the air. Moreover, it would bo remarkably hard to spot in the bright sunlight, compared with a brown or grey machine.** Each float is divided into nine compartments by water-tight bulkheads, nnd is protected by steel runners along the bottom Rgaittst damage in beaching. The machines can attain a speed of 110 miles an hour, and climb 5000 ft in 6min 40sec. The overall length is 36ft lin; area of main planes, 500 square feet; weight fully loaded, 50501 b; and the wireless has a radius of 200 miles. The first squadron will be delivered at Melbourne, but the ultimate desination is Sydney, where they will be used for training purposes.