PROGRESS IN AVIATION.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20171, 25 February 1931, Page 15

PROGRESS IN AVIATION.

NEW BRITISH FLYING-BOAT. BELGIUM'S LARGE ORDER. (nov OCT OWH COBMRTOWDUn.) LONDON, January. 15. Pacta which came to light within the last few days emphasise the achievement of a British company in obtaining from the Belgian Government the larg-, est order for service aeroplanes plaeed in Breat Britain by a foreign Power since the war. The struggle among the aircraft; constructors of several nations . for contracts worth more than £300,000 belongs to the high romance of business. When the British representatives, Firefly single-seater fighter and Fox two- f scater reached - the Belgian -testing ground the to buy from L France and: Czecho-Slovakia was already taken, and the contracts awaited signature by , the responsible ' Government officials. These documents.were torn up after the i - K , j British machines had'flown in demonsi tration before Belgian air officers and technical experts. The Firefly gained the day by «a> ' hibiting a range of speed and rocket--like,rate of climb which far surpassed any other competing aeroplane. In the hands of Belgiaivair officers the machine was put through every conceivable manoeuvre, including flight upside down - over the entire length-of the aerodrome,, I showing ease and swiftness of control \ : , that surprised and delighted the pilots. i The Fox, powered like the Firefly with - 1 the Rolls-Royce "F" type motor of \ about 500 horse-power, was equally out-, '• I standing in .fierce competition. The ' < French entry was a biplane, admitted |to be one of the most efficient craft of i its type yet built. When usual flying trials were concluded, the experts eontrolling the competition arranged a re- ' i connaissance flight similar to daily 1 -routine required of two-seater machines - in war operations. Each aeroplane was to fly to a certain locality, take-several - - photographs, fly on to a further point' for visual' reconnaissance, and return to the aerodrome. - - The Fox completed the task in lea* ■' than half the time, taken by the French ,/ machine, delivering photographs and re- j ; ports according to instructions; : Tlie &i\ French craft, hopelessly beaten,in speea;ft| of execution, also returned required- photsfcraphs, server >on board suffered so* -baiily-yfiroftXjl the cold through exposure that' unable to take them. 7 / Belgium is' now of flyfaim equipment >whieli; .'will, regiments'. ■ abftvfe-. Great Britain- excepted,". j'n 78 the quality and two seater fighting aircaraJt." ;,;lf Flying-Boats In the 1 Baltic, , ' The log of the cruise' oif foar Royal»dj Air Force flying, boats'' "in ~ B£ti6y§ waters, iast •September,* just>ritette<l wWggg the Air Mutistry, shows titat She. .air- ? 3 craft oovered a distance QjT 3381,, fcea-V*-; miles in an time of 220 hours minutes. "The- cruige 7/*®* eluded visiJsß to ■Stockholm, Tallinn.' l ■ Pntzig, ■ Goteborg and £ ''Os&»jsJ Wherevert£e Tap®?flying Slup^pp«H^i jj| much thffe ' have - been \ aabmeo-: fctrJ^sgj works -inr- Brough, ' YorMute,rßtackburn Aerpplan«. sad, manufacture.^ and in is sent 1 wings, conjtrols, equipment.. "Next ifcsjgbj&sjtq^g^, shop. thfi ffthric - ■ wings ' and'/fuselage; is ' Vplete aeMt^elemfergea 4 s 1 and; .j be, i down