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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 1186.PDF
FLIGHT, DECEMBER 7, 1933 " seadromes " at intervals along the so-called southern route, via the Azores, Mr. Vidal explained. This type oi seadrome is 1,250 it. long, remains motionless in heavy seas, is anchored and can be equipped with aids to air navigation, accommodation for siopovers and facilities for emergencies. The landing platlorm is 100 ft. above sea level, and the buoyancy tank counter weights are 200 ft. below the surface and in still water. The cost of each seadrome is estimated at $6,000,000. However, it has not been definitely determined whether the number, size and spacing of the seadromes, as now considered, will be carried out if the entire airway is to be built. The rapid develop ment oi the aeropiane may eventually change the final plans tor the technical layout of trie seadromes. Mr. Vidal said that in bis opinion safe and reliable trans atlantic scheduled service can be operated in the near future 3y airships, by large llying-boats and by aeroplanes using the seadrome airway. The economic advantage in the seadrome airway is its facilities lor refuelling en route, since the fuel load of present and near-future flying equip ment greatly reduces the pay load, namely, mail, passengers and express. THE SIKORSKY S.42 AS A TRANSATLANTIC MAIL- PLANE IN our issue of January 19 last, we published a draw ing and brief details of the Sikorsky S.42 flying-boat under construction for Pan-American Airways. It was recently announced by Igor Sikorsky that the first of three machines of this type will be ready for tests in January. The speci fication to which the machine was designed was sub mitted to Sikorsky and other American aircraft manufac turers more than a year ago. This specification was drawn up by the Technical Committee of Pan-American Airways, who co-operated with the Sikorsky designers in the develop ment of the design. It called for a range, with full mail load, sufficient to span the longest sections of either trans atlantic, or transpacific routes—a range of 2,500 miles against headwinds of 30 m.p.h. The requirements of the specification for both range and load have been exceeded in the Sikorsky design. Construction was actually started more than a year ago—st /cral months before contracts had been awarded. The big Martin boat, which was designed to the same specification, is not expected to be ready until late next summer. This gives Sikorsky a good start, and will enable him thoroughly to test his machine, and incor porate any improvements suggested by the tests in the sister ships which will follow the first model. The S.42 has had to be designed with a view to using1 her for dual purposes. As Pan-American Airways must, unlike some competitive European lines, cover the entire financial re quirements involved in development work, the machine has been designed for use as either a transatlantic mail machine or a passenger aircraft for use on the existing routes between North and South America. Actually her first service tests will be made as a 32-passenger machine on the trans-Caribbean routes of Pan-American Airways. In this form a crew of five and 1,000 lb. of mail and cargo will be carried over a range of 1,200 miles. The New York- Bermuda section of the southern transatlantic route offers the operators a popular passenger traffic, but the actual Atlantic service will be, at first, for mails alone. Mr. Sikorsky wishes to make it clear that, despite the provision of suitable equipment and the operating experience of Pan- American Airways, it is erroneous to think that a trans atlantic transport service will be started immediately the S.42 has completed her tests. " The real significance of the completion of this aeroplane is that by simply substituting the original fuel tanks for passenger fit tings, which are to be used during the ser vice test runs, America will have a ship which can be called upon to perform a transatlantic air mail schedule if it is pos sible to inaugurate such a service before Pan-American's full complement of ocean- flying equipment will be available under the present plans." Col. Lindbergh is, of course, at present surveying possible trans oceanic routes for Pan-American Airways. NEW MACHINES FOR EUROPEAN AIR LINES MR. BALZ ZIMMERMANN, manager of the Swissair Com pany, recently left for America to buy some new high-speed aircraft for his company. Twin-engined machines of two different types are under consideration. M. Henri Cor nelius, a director of Sabena, is now in Rome. It is rumoured that new equipment for Sabena will be of French and Italian construction. M. Esders, a generous patron of French private flying, has sailed for New York to purchase a Northrop " Delta " for his personal use. AIR MAIL FOR IRAQ, SYRIA AND TRANSJORDAN THE Postmaster-General announces that the air postage rates for Iraq, Syria and Transjordan have been reduced, and are now as follows:—Letters: First half ounce, 3£d. ; each additional half ounce, 2£d. Postcards, 2d. These rates are the same as those to Egypt and Palestine. AIR MAIL FOR SIAM AND FAR EAST ON and after December 9, air mail correspondence for Siam. the Straits Settlements and Malay States will be forwarded by the England-India-Straits Settlements air mail service, and the latest time of posting in the air mail letter box outside the G.P.O., London, for these destinations, will be 10.45 a.m. on Saturday instead of 11 a.m. on Wednes day as at present. At the same time, the air postage rates for Siam, the Straits Settlements and Malay States will be reduced to lid. per half ounce for letters and 5d. for post cards. Correspondence for the countries mentioned sent by the service leaving London on Saturday, December 9, should be delivered before Christmas. MISR-AIRWORK IN EGYPT THE regular Cairo-Alexandria service operated by Misr- Airwork has been busy as usual, and many passengers of note have been carried. A survey trip to Assiut, Luxor and Assouan was undertaken by the management, and arrangements' have been satisfactorily completed for a bi-weekly service to these three cities to commence pro visionally on December 15. A number of priests chartered a " Dragon " for a visit of a few hours to the monastery at Wadi Netrun. The Hon. F. Guest and Mr. Vanderbilt were among the passengers on a special Alexandria-Cairo charter arranged by Misr-Airwork on behalf of Imperial Airways to connect with one of their regular southbound services. H.E. Sir Percy Loraine and party were trans ported by Misr-Airwork to a shooting party near Ekyard. THE SHORT " SCYLLA " : Sir Eric Geddes, in his speech at the Annual General Meeting of Imperial Airways, referred to the new air liners now under construction. The accompanying sketch, from Imperial Airways Gazette, gives a general idea of the appearance of this new machine, which will be equipped with four engines of the total horse-power of 2,220, and will accommodate 39 passengers and a crew of four. 1240
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