GIANT BRITISH BRABAZON 78- PASSENGER PLANES SOON Trials By First Machine For Flight To New York Likely In April

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 January 1949, Page 4

GIANT BRITISH BRABAZON 78PASSENGER PLANES SOON Trials By First Machine For Flight To New York Likely In April

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA). —Built at a cost of several million pounds, the first of Britain’s giant Brabazon aircraft is expected to take to the air for the first time in April.

Weighing about 134 tons fully)' loaded, the Brabazon will [ eventually carry 78 passengers on 1 night flights between London and New York, but the trials alone i are likely to last at least a year. ‘ This was stated in an interview by Mr. A. M. Chittenden, assistant-ser- , vice manager of the engine division of the Bristol Aeroplane Co., Ltd. He is in Auckland advising the officers of Tasman Empire Airways on Bris- ( tol engines, with which the new I Solent flying-boats for the Tasman service will be fitted. • The 78-passenger version for night I travel provided accommodation of the highest luxury standards, and the 3000-mile flight across the Atlantic :

would be completed in about 12 hours, said Mr. Chittenden. The first Brabazon would be equipped with eight reciprocating engines, driving four pairs of counter-rotating propellers, but these engines would be replaced by Proteus gas turbines in the second machine built It was tentatively proposed to equip the third Brabazon with jet engines. Decision on the method of driving subsequent types would be made on the basis of experience gained with the first three Mr. Chittenden said he doubted whether the Brabazon would ever be seen in New Zealand. Apart from the need for special runways, it was unlikely that the traffic offering to the Dominion would make sucn a flight worth while.