AIR ROUTES

Evening Star, Issue 22144, 26 September 1935, Page 11

AIR ROUTES

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BRITISH PACIFIC TRUST'S PROJECTS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, September 25. The ' Sim ' says the British Pacific Trust is prepared to find more than £1,000,000 for development of Australian and New Zealand air lines. In addition to backing Sir Charles Kingsford Smith for his proposed transtasman service linking New Zealand with PanAmerican Airways, negotiations are proceeding to expand New England Airways, which is already operating a service between Sydney and Queensland, into a company with a capital of £1,000,000, to be known as Airlines of Australia Ltd., with the idea x of linking the whole of the Eastern Australian capitals and Darwin by air. VARIOUS OPINIONS LONDON, September 25. (Received September 20, at 11 a.m.) Sikorsky flying boats, manufactured in England, will be employed in the transtasman service if Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's negotiations with the Pacific trust are successful. Mr. Stephenson, a director of the trust, informed the Associated Press that the boats, which are better than the Imperial Airways planes, will be ready in the autumn of 193 G. Imperial Airways further announce that their flying boats have four engines and a spacious cabin fitted with sleepers. It is estimated that night flying will easily ensure a seven-day service to Australia, also the range of the boats will permit the inclusion of New Zealand. The opinion is expressed that 168 hours would provide a wide margin for all halts, refuelling, and weather delays. While the pan-American negotiations with New Zealand are being watched from London the suggestion that they will necessitate an Imperial conference is not confirmed. It is pointed out that such a service would not compete with the route through Australia, because even, when connected with Britain across the Atlantic it would be too costly for , both passengers and mails/ [A previous message read: Imperial Airways is ordering a fleet of new flying boats, each of 17J tons, with a 1,500 miles range and; a speed'of. nearly 200 miles an hour, for the main Empire routes. The flying boats, which are high-wing monoplanes with a double deck and cabins, are 30 per cent, larger and 50 to 60 per cent, faster than the biggest existing Empire iplane. The first is expected in the middle of 1936. It is understood that 16 have been jOrdeje&T, • '