TASMAN FLIGHTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 175, 11 August 1937, Page 6

TASMAN FLIGHTS

"Pick-a-Back" Machines May Be Used UNUSUAL AIRCRAFT A "pick-a-back" aeroplane of revolutionary design is being considered by Imperial Airways for use in high-speed mail services across the Tasman Sea, according to an Australian newspaper, the Sun, Sydney. The machine is a Short-Mayo composite aircraft, now heing completed in England. "The service, however, is likely to to begin about March next year -with special long-range Short 'Empire/ fly-ing-boats, operated by a new eompany incorporating the interests of Imperial AirwayS, Qantas, and Union Airways of New Zealand," states the "Sun." "Governments of New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom will jointlv control the service appointing three representatives each as directors of the operating corapany, or aa cnembers of a committee of management. "The service is expected to begin with two Short 'Empire' flying-boats specially fitted with long-range tanks on the lines of the Caledonia which recently made experimental flights across the Atlantic. . "The principle of the 'pick-a-back' aircraft is that a huge flying-boat, as a 'mother ship' takes a four-engined seaplanp heavily laden with mails up to an altitude of some thousands of feet, and then releases it. Once in the air, by this means, the seaplane can fly with a mueh greater load than it could take from the water. It will have a speed of 200 miles an hbur and mails would be flown between Australia and New Zealand in seven hours. Passengers would be flown in the 'Empire' flying-boats, which, with long-range i tankage, would accommodate about 18 passengers. "The initial service is being ■ planned on a basis of two flights weekly each way. Experimental flights will be made before the service begins. Unless these are arranged shortly, the service will not be in opera tion for the hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebrations. "The flying-boats which come to Australia next year will not continue to New Zealand. This will mean that jextra flying-boats, exelusively for the Tasman service, will be using the fly-ing-boat base selected — probably Kose Bay — tempora lv. Eventually the service will extend from New Zealand across the Pacific to. Vancouver, Canada, -linking up an Empire round-the-world airline. "Provision for the Commonwealth 's share of the payments to the joint eompany controlling the service will be made in the Budget estimates to be submitted af the coming session of a Federal Parliament, , according to a statement by the Minister for Defence, Sir Archdale Parkhill."