FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1929
1929 - 0094.PDF
landings proves that as usual the " Lions " kept roaring so long as they were being properly fed. It is noticeable that the average speed made good over the ground (or sea) was markedly higher on the last stage. Whereas on the England-Karachi stage the average ground speed was 67 knots, and between Karachi and Singapore it was 66 knots, the average from Singapore to and around Australia and back to Singapore was 72 knots, or 83 miles per hour. This is an extremely good average, and is probably more representative of the aircraft than were the previous average speeds, which were reduced by very strong head winds. As regards the metal hulls, it is interesting to find in the report of the Commander the statement that the water-tightness of the metal hulls and wing-tip floats has been excellent, and that the corrosion of rivet points in the hulls, and the deposits of barnacles below the water line has been much less than on the earlier stages of the cruise. What the reason for this is, is not clear at the moment, but will doubtless be explained when, as we hope, the Com- mander of the cruise gives his lecture on the technical aspects. At least it seems clear that neither corrosion nor barnacles are likely to prove serious obstacles during the regular operation of a commercial Empire service. It will be recalled that in previous sections of the official log, Group-Captain Cave-Browne-Cave reported that when the accumulation of barnacles was at its worst, the length of run necessary to take off was greatly increased. Evidently it did not prevent the machines from taking off. And when the deposit was removed, the take-off run of all machines returned to normal. The statement that the water- tightness was satisfactory indicates that what little corrosion did take place could not have been of a very serious nature, otherwise the water-tightness would not have been satisfactory. Altogether the official log gives one the impression that the fears which were, we know, entertained in some quarters concerning Duralumin hulls have not been proved well founded, and the performance of the four " Southamptons " gives one still greater confidence in the future of the metal flying-boat for Empire air communications. It would seem that most if not all of any doubts that may have been entertained on technical grounds have now been settled, and if that is the case, the only causes for delay in establishing Empire flying-boat services over suitable routes are political and financial, and not technical. JAKUARY 17, 1929 As " The Seaplane Journal," FLIGHT is naturally extremely gratified to have been thus proved correct in its championship of the seaplane, and more particularly the flying-boat, as the logical type to develop for the British Empire. The Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and more particularly the Far East Flight, are to be congratulated on having furnished this very convincing proof of the reliability and practicability of the flying-boat. It is impossible to read the official log without being impressed by the frequency with which occurs the phrase " sheltered water suitable for emergency landings was found all along the route." This fact again should be of the greatest possible value, not only for service flying but even more so for com- mercial air routes, and the information which the Far East Flight has accumulated during the cruise should be of the very greatest assistance in planning such routes in the future. It is impossible for us to refer in detail here to the various minor adventures which befell the flight. One such, however, is of considerable technical significance, and deserves to be noted. During the flight from Klabat Bay to Batavia, S.1151 alighted owing to the catching fire of an accumulator which was being charged, and the fumes from which choked and blinded the pilot. The sea was rough, but S.I 152 alighted to find out whether assistance was required. The burning battery was, however, extinguished, and after a short delay, the flight was resumed. Two interesting facts emerge from this incident. The absence of petrol in the hull is a great safeguard against fire. Had the hull been more or less filled with petrol tanks, it is probable that the consequences would have been more serious. Secondly, it will be noticed from the log that both S.1151 and S.I 152 took off again successfully in a 4-ft. sea and a \5-knot wind. While sailors walking the deck of a large liner would probably not regard a 4-ft. sea as worth even mentioning, it is a pretty good feat to take off in such a sea with what is after all a very small craft. That the success of the take-off was not due to the machines " flying light " is evidenced by the statement that both machines were at the time each carrying 180 gallons of fuel. Altogether, the official log of the Far East cruise is one of the most interesting documents which it has been our privilege to publish for some time ; and we would recommend our readers to study it t \i'closely. Magnificent Gift MR. DANIEL GUGGENHEIM, the copper magnate, has given /100,000 for the development of aviation in Chile. He would like to see an aviation school established, but leaves the disposition of the money in the hands of the Chilian Government. Mr. Guggenheim's family holds large nitrate and copper properties in Chile. Lady Bailey OWING to continual bad weather between London and Paris, Lady Bailey was delayed at Paris until January 14 after her arrival there on January 6 following a successful 18,000-mile aerial survey round the African Continent in her Cirrus-Moth, which we described fully in our last issue. Continual fog has spread over the Continental air route across the Channel lately, affecting all air traffic. She left • Le Bourget on January 12 soon after noon, but was obliged to return. Another start was made on January 14 at 1 p.m., and she passed over Abbeville 1 i hours later, but on reaching the coast she found the Channel still impassable, and a landing at Berck-sur-Mer was necessary at 3.15 p.m. On January 16 she started on the last stage to London. To-day, Thursday, January 17, a luncheon will be given to Lady Bailey at the Savoy Hotel at 1 p.m. by the Royal Aero Club, Royal Aeronautical Society, the Air League of the British Empire, and the Society of British Aircraft Constructors. Sqdn.-Ldr. Hinkler Awarded Gold Medal THE International Aeronautical Federation has awarded the Gold Medal for the finest air exploit in 1928 to Sqdn.-Ldr. Hinkler for his flight from England to Australia in the Avro " Avian " light aeroplane. Schneider Contest THE Royal Aero Club announce that the date fixed for this year's contest for the Schneider Cup is September 6 and 7 British Engines for Switzerland Two important Swiss airlines have placed orders with Armstrong-Siddeley Motors, Ltd., for " Lynx " aero engines. The firms in question are, Ad Astra Aero Schweizerische Luftverkehrs A.-G. and " Balair " Basle Air Traffic, Ltd. The " Lynx " engines ordered will be of the same type as used on the Amsterdam-Batavia air service, and will, also, be fitted in Fokker machines. 38
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
