Ships With Wings Romance of Empire Flying-Boats

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 27, 16 February 1937, Page 15

Ships With Wings Romance of Empire Flying-Boats

QN the banks of the placid Medway, ln Kent, beneath the roofs qf a great factory, a new romance of the air is being born (writes John Balfe in the Melbourne Argue), There the last of 28 huge fiying-boats for the England-Aus-tralia servlce are approaching completion. * * * n rpHe romance of these craft Is that they will develop the Brltlsh Emplre's airways from flights of aeroplanes to voyage> of ships that have wings. Their grace will be superb, their size one which was thought impossible with the kpown ^ sources of motive power, and their per- * formance and accommodation unequalled anywhere else in the world. Two of the fiying-boats are already in the air. • » * VEAR by, like the blades of gargantuan scissoni, the wings which lift these leyiathans into the air are being delicately fashioned. For several months the work will go on, and then Britain's new commerciai armada will reduce communication with Australia from 12 to seyen days. By day and by night these aerial ships will speed with the safety Of advanced navigation aids over an organised route which not so long ago was the most hazardous airway in the Empire. Here in Australia, 12,000 miles from the Medway, it is dflflcult to recognise the historic signiflcance of the Short Empire flying boat. In the development of international aerial trade it may be said to correspond with the advent of the screw-driven steamer in sea travel. Britain's New Marine. TT will cary the flag of Britain's air . marine to the farthest corners of the globe, and will inaugurate a period in which all of the Empire's urgent transport will be by air. It will even advance the accepted method of aircraft operfttion, for the crew of each boat will include not only a captain, flrst offlcer, wireless operator, and chef, but a purser. The flrst of these vessels, Canopus (pronounced Ka-noh- pus), has attained perfectly the ideals of her designers, and is in special service in the Mediterranean Sea. Her 27 sister ships will be identical with her. Canopus, as well as her sisters, deriyed her name from the ancient Greelr '* • • • pANOPUS is a triumph of invention, ^ She Js a high-wing monoplane of metal construction, and is a departure in British ' design. Four Bristol Pegasus motors are set into her enormous tapered wing, giving a driving force of nearly 3000-horse power. With them Canopus can cruise at 180 miles an hour, and can carry a pay load of four tons. Her total weight is eighteen tons, and her g'ant wing spans 114ft. The hull is 88ft. long, and has lines of sweeping grace. From a snub nose in which the windows of the control-room resemble the bridge of a steamer, it tapers symmetrically like a ■hark's body to the sensitive elevators ' and rudder at the tail. Beneath the hull " « 0

two hydroplane steps break what otherwise might have been a monotonous grace. Cabin portholes along the sides indicate upper and lower decks within. An aeroplane with two decks — lt soUnds almost Wellsian— but the Empire boats have them. The interlor of the hull is a masterplece of compact, luxurious construction. The forepeak is a mooring compartment about the size of a fiat kitchen. Above it the control cabin is placed for the captain and flrst offlcer. Considering the size of the boats, the control system is remarkably simple. Immediately behind is the wireless operatpr's yoom. He has all the facilities of a ship's wireless operator, and through him cpme the signals which prohibit wandering from the true course. Luxury begins beneath the radlo operator's feet in the smoking compartment. Here seven passengers may sit by day and four sleep in bunks by night. Card Tables. fjARD tables stand before the comfortably upholstered armchalrs. There are curtains across the portholes and a carpet on the floor. A door leads to the kitchen, in which works a chef, in uniform. Around him are racks of dishes, cups, saucers, pots, and wine glasses. The stove is electrlc. Near by is the bar, With a wide range of liquors. The purser sits at a desk above the kitchen and lavatories. He is abreast of the motors and bags of mail are piled on each side of him. The midship cabin comes next. It. has room for three passengers by day and four by night. Iri it are upper and lower berths, similar to those of a ship's cabin. Through a door from here a passenger may actually stroll irtfo the promenade cabin. Large windows on each side of the aisle are armchairs for four persons on a day flight and two sleeping berths. Above is a capacious hold for bedding. Electric Light. J^EHIND is the after cabin, with armchairs for six by day and bunks for four. Head high are luggage racks throughout. The freight, mail, and luggage hold has space for three tons of material. Electric lighting and ventilation are provided in all cabins. Two years of research was spent in developing comfortable furniture for the boats, and the cabins are sound proof. One of Britain's fprerpost architects decorated the interior. The normal range of the ships will be 800 miles with 24 passengers by day and 16 by night. Each will be equipped with the most modern navigation instruments, robot pilot, and blind-flying equipment. When penny postage comes to the airmail, as it must eventually, trade will be given renewed energy, general education will be advanced. and, as Sir William Sefton Brancker said, pounds of airmail carried to-day will be converted to tons. Such is the significftace of tbe Emphe fiyingboats, /