AMBITIOUS FLIGHT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19162, 19 November 1927, Page 7

AMBITIOUS FLIGHT.

TOUR ROUND AUSTRALIA. POUR METAL SEAPLANES. (rBOK OTTO OW* CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, October 4. The most ambitious Service flight yet to be done by the Eoyal Air Force will start from Plymouth about October 17th, when four Southampton flying boats will leave on a cruise of 25,000 miles to India, Singapore, Australia, and the Far East. So soon after the Baltic cruise, this flight to show the British air flag is a welcome proof of the seaworthiness and reliability of the British flying boat, for the effort (writes the aeronautical correspondent of "The Times") is a definite exercise carried out on a pre-arranged schedule. The itinerary and the approximate dates are as under:— England, leave October 17th, 1927. Karachi, arrive November. Karachi, leave January, 1925. Calcutta, arrive February. Singapore, arrive March. Singapore, leave May. Australia, North, June. Melbourne, arrive July. Melbourne, leave August. Australia, leave September. Singapore, arrive September. A stay of two to four months will then be made at Singapore, which is likely to become a permanent flyingboat base, and then it is proposed to undertake a further extended cruise in Far Eastern waters lasting up to January, 1929. Self-Contained Unit. All the details of the cruise have been most carefully planned, as the boats, once they leave England, are expected to fly as one unit independently of any shore help except that wanted for mooring and refuelling. In fact, there are outside the Mediterranean no seaplane bases, though the various Eoyal Air Force stations near the coasts can give help in regard to overhauls. Therefore the interiors of the boats have been equipped so that tho crews can sleep aboard and cook their meals; they carry water and provisions for about two days besides extra emergency rations, hold a carefully selected assortment of spares, and contain a fairly comprehensive selection of mooring gear. AU-Metal Hulls. All this equipment has added to the weight, and, moreover," extra petrol tankage has been installed in view of the long flights which may be attempted in some of the stages. These Southamptons are fitted with the latest type of all-metal hull evolved by tho Supermarine Aviation Company. The use of metal makes a hull about 9001b lighter ■than the older wooden hull, when the water soakage inevitable with wooden construction is taken into account. The four boats are under the command of Group Captain 11. M. Cave-Brown-Cave, D.5.0., D.F."b., with Squadron Leader G. E. Livock, D.F.C., as his second in command, and there are six pilots in the fligrit, besides mechanics, riggers, and wireless operators. The pilots are Flight-Lieutenants P. E. Maitland, A.F.C., D. V. Carnegie, A.F.C., C. G. Wigglesworlh, A.F.C., H. G. Sawyer, A.F.C. and Flying Officers S. D. Scott, and G. E. Nicholetts; and the engineer officers are Flight-Lieutenant S. T. Freeman and Flying Officer B. Cheesman. The Itinerary. After leaving Plymouth the first stop will he the French seaplane station at Hourtin, near Bordeaux, and then the four boats will fly overland to the Mediterranean seaplane station at Berre, continuing after that along the coastline to Italy. They will call at Naples and Brindisi and then make their way via Suda Bay to Alexandretta, after which another land stage will be made of about 150 miles across the Syrian desert until the Euphrates is reached. The two overland stretches, however, will present no undue risk to boats of the Southampton class, which are fitted with two Napier Liou engines of 450 h.p. and can maintain height and even climb on any one engine- From the Persian Gulf onwards the cruise will be across water for the rest of the distance to Australia, for, on leaving Karachi, the four boats will undertake the first cruise yet made of the coastline of India, calling at Colombo in Ceydon, en route for Calcutta. They will then follow the route Sir Alan Cobham took via Akyab to Eangoon, Singapore, and along the Dutch East Indian Islands to the northern coast of Australia. Then, instead of flying down to Melbourne, the four Southamptons will cruise round the Australian seaboard until they reach Fremantle, proceeding via Melbourne to Port Darwin, and ultimately back to Singapore. Much interest has been aroused in Australia by the flight, for Australia with its long coastline has much to gain from the development of seagoing and coastal defence aircraft. The Eoyal Australian Air Force has ordered two Southampton boats with wooden hulls, and delivery has been expedited so that these boats may fly from Australia to jneet the British boats, most probably at Singapore, and accompany them on the last stages of the journey.