STRATOSPHERE FLIGHT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 104, 19 May 1937, Page 7

STRATOSPHERE FLIGHT

(Own Correspondent-

Air Ministry's Engine Tests

— By Air Mail)'

LONDON, April 27. Experiments are being made with the liquid-cooled engine," specially designed for flights in the stratosphere. It is to be installed in the sister machine of the Bristol monoplane that last September brought the world aeroplane height record to 49,944 feet. , The engine used on that occasion was a double supercharged Bristol "Pegasus," designed to give 400 h.p. at a height of 45,000 feet. With the same engine many flights up to 40,000 feet, and more, have since been made. As soon as conditions favour the attempt there will be an effort to raise the height record to well above 50,000 feet. In any case, when the liquidcooled Rolls Boyce engine is ready, it will be installed in the second machine. A ' prolonged series of comparative tests of air-cooled iand liquid cooled engines in the very rarefied air of the stratosphere, which begins at about 30,000 feet, will then be carried out for the Air Ministry. The object is much more serious than that of mere record-breaking. High flying offers certain advantages both for"military and commercital operations — smooth and clear air at all times and, in the case of military operations, an approach difficult to see of to hear. The solution of engine problems will enable greiater speeds to be obtained. and the research and experiment which are incidental will also be of great value for flying operations ht the moderate altitudes of four or.flve miles. Britain's plans for these investigations are perhqps more thorough at the moment than those of any other country. It is significant that the British engine responsible for the present height record was used in several foreign high-altitude flights.