AIR SERVICES.

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19991, 15 September 1936, Page 6

AIR SERVICES.

A SERIOUS BREAKDOWN,

EMPIRE COMMUNICATIONS. FAILURE OF A MACHINE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. copyright. LONDON, Sept. 14. The Brindisi correspondent of the Daily Herald says the failure of the imperial Airways machine Satyras to arrive there from Alexandria on Sunday morning reveals a serious breakdown in Empire air communications. Army officers under orders for Palestine and India, and civil passengers for Australia and Africa are temporarily stranded. It is officially stated that the Satyras was forced to return to Alexandria owing to engine trouble. She is the only available seaplane capable of crossing the Mediterranean in all conditions. This section of the Mediterranean service has been operated under vep* great difficulties for more than a year. Overhauls are done piecemeal owing to disorganisation and it is impossible to lay up a machine without a total interruption of the Empire services. SUCCESSFUL TEST. NEW GIANT FLYING-BOAT. EFFICIENT AND LUXURIOUS. (Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Sept. 13. The giant flying-boat Caledonia. th« second of 29 aircraft now being built for Imperial Airways’ Empire routes, was launched at Rochester and underwent a test flight which was satisfactory. The llying-boat will be completed in time for her to leave on Monday for Felixstowe to be tested for a certificate of airworthiness. It has rarely happened that such a big aeroplane has been ready for submission to the Air Ministry's tests within three days of her trial flight. The craft was handled easily on the water and took off quickly. As the result of the flight the machine Is regarded as ready for full load tests.

The flying-boat Canopus, the first of the series, is nearly ready for her acceptance tests by Imperial Airways. The Canopus is regarded by her builders and by other experts as a model of what an efficient and luxurious lining boat should be.