IN MID-ATLANTIC

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19459, 26 December 1934, Page 10

IN MID-ATLANTIC

GERMAN AIRPORT. ■WESTFALEN AND HER WORK. The Atlantic has now been crossed many times by aeroplane, but each crossing is hailed anew as a remarkable and daring feat, the best indication that the long flight is still a hazardous adventure, says a Galcultta Statesman. It has therefore been recognised quite early in the history of these crossings that what is a dangerous goal in one non-stop flight might be within easy reach if a refuelling stop could he made about midway across. Many plans for floating platforms have 'been made which were ingenious and even plausible, but it remained for the Deutsche Left Hansa, the largest European ai,r transport company, to execute the most practical of these and to demonstrate its efficiency in actual practice. This enterprising air transport company bought for a very reasonable sum the veteran Westfalen, a five-thousand-ton liner of the North German Lloyd of almost thirty years’ service, and transformed her into a floating airport Lo be stationed in the South Atlantic midway between Bathurst, British Gambia, Africa, and Pernambuco, Brazil. On her deck they installed the largest catapult ever constructed, capable of ‘ shooting an aeroplane with a flying weight of fourteen tons into the air at tlie rate ol' ninety-four miles an hour. More Power. This catapult thus produces eight times as much power as those of the s.s. Bremen and Europe. These are adequate for the smalt mail aeroplanes carried by these liners, but would hardly do for the heavy twin-engined Dornier flying boats to be 'propelled from, the Westfalen. The Bremen’s catapult measures seventy-five feel; that of the Westfalen 170. Running as it does along the greater part of the starboard side it cannot be turned according lo the wind. Instead, the entire ship is swung round. The designer of this super-machine ts Dr. Ernest Heinkel, llie man who designed also Iliose of the Bremen and the Europa.

Tlie launching ol‘ I.ho aeroplane is an impressive sight. Mounted on a sledge, it shoots forward, hy llie sudden application of compressed t air, along a rail 103 feet in length. On this relatively short stretch, the huge aeroplane is propelled from a dead stop to 9-1 miles an hour. The motors roar. Carefully. watch ins the monometer, the mechanic puts his hand on the lever which releases a volume of air weighing 2200 pounds, ormpressed into a presence or a hundred atmospheres; an energy equalling almost 13,000 horse Power. The pilot sils rigidly in his cockpit, his neck pressed firmly against springs awaiting (lie jolt. The man at the lever gives a sign. The pilot stiffens. The motors roar at full speed. The lever is released. The enormous aeroplane shools forward like a hullet, gaining speed at an incredible rale. In a moment it is in the air. The spectators, amazed and visibly impressed, watch it soar off easily over llic vast expanse.

Landing Device.

The really new I'caluro on Hie "Westfalen. however, is Ihe landing device, a drag-sail of stout sail cloth measuring Itlly-Iwo by Iwcniy-si.v feel. It is allowed to Ira it astern, (lie ship hardly gaining against ihe wind, Ihe drag-sail trailing below I lie .surface. The aeroplane is I hen taxied up lo Ihe slern of the ship and a tow-line fastened lo her bow. The ship now sleams full speed ahead, Ihe large drag-sail grows laid and lift Ihe aeroplane above Ihe surface. It can |hen easily he hoisted on hoard hy means of Ihe huge crane on Ihe slern. This crane can lift lifleeu lons and is over forty feet high. The aeroplane, ■ thus safely on board, can be conveniently refuelled, repaired, and run forward on lo Ihe catapult and relaunched. Besides Ihe catapult, Ihe drag-sail, and the crane, I lie bon I has a powerful radio station lo transmit, weal her. conditions and oilier necessary information lo the aeroplanes. It is equipped witli long and short-wave facilities and radio-direclion-iindei s as well as meteorological research equipment. It has a very complete refrigeration plant for preserving food and is generally filled to spend long periods in mid-ocean. Power plants provided witli Diesel engines supply compressed air for the catapult, electric current for Ihe huge 120.000,01)0 candle-power lloodlighls as well as for general lighting purposes. A repair shop and aoeommodalion for the crew and pilots roml'lele this up-10-thc-minule equipment. All Adoquate. Tests made in the ?nuth Atlantic under all kinds of conditions indicate that the arrangements made are very adequate and that the Hornier Wal, the largest Hying boat ever calapulled. can, wilh structural romforeemenls in Ihe hull, easily slaml Ihe strain. In all these experiments, extending over

many months, not a .single accident occurred. ’

This first transoceanic aeroplane service, which began this year, gives a four-day service boom Berlin to Bio de .Janeiro. Later, as night flying is instituted along the African coast, and faster flying boats are placed in service, Urn lime is expected lo be reduced to 30 hours before many years. The traiisocean part of the line will require from 12 to J i hours, depending on weather conditions. This new service will I supplement the regular passenger, mail, and freight service by the Graf Zeppelin, which has been carried out so succcsslully since March 21. 1932. and which will be slill further improved by the addition of Hu' LZ—l29, Ihe world’s largest ligliler-lli,an-air craft, now nearing completion in Germany.