BIG FLYING-BOATS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 244, 27 July 1937, Page 3

BIG FLYING-BOATS.

BRITISH EXPERT’S FORECAST. CRAFT OF 100 TONS. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 26. The time is not far distant when giant flying-boats of 100 tons, twice as large as any yet built, will be in regular use on a commercial _ air route between England and Australia and New Zealand. This view is taken by Air H. E. Wimperis, formerly Director of Scientific Research in the British Air Alinistry, who is passing through Auckland by tho Alonowai on his way to Australia. Air Wimperis resigned only recently from his post with the Air Alinistry, and is visiting Australia at the invitation of the Commonwealth Government to act in an advisory capacity in the local manufacture of aircraft. He is an acknowledged authority on aerodynamics, and on aeroplane constructional and engineering design. “The most striking feature in modern aviation,” Air Wimperis said, “is the enormously improved efficiency of the large flying-boat. Until recently it was thought that the land machine, from the point of view of economical fuel consumption and general efficiency, would be the most suitable for long-distance services, but recent experience has proved that the flying- 1 boat 'is by far the best form of machine for commercial services.” With the application of modern principles of design, Air Wimperis continued, flying-boats were growing steadily in size. The new Empire fiying- boats for use on the service to Australia and New Zealand were machines of 20 tons, but already machines of 50 tons were being planned and built. A few years ago the Germans had built a flying-boat of 50 tons, but it had not been a success. Improvements in design were so marked that machines of that size would shortly be common, and there was no reason why flyingboats should not be built up to 100 tons. “Engineers and designers all over the world are hard at their tasks,” Mr AVimperis added. “Enormous do- ■ velopments in aviation are taking place, and it must lie realised that before long the public will insist on all first-class trans-oceanic mails being ; carried by air. Alachines will have to be provided which can give the desired ’ service.”