AIR MAIL ROUTE TO INDIA

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1929, Page 8

AIR MAIL ROUTE TO INDIA

A USPiICKHJS OPENING

VALUABLE SAVING IN TIME.

RUGBY, April 15

The new 5,000 mile Imperial Airways route which links England with India, has opened most auspiciously. It marked the beginning of the Empire work of Imperial Airways. The entire journey from London to India and back lias been .made in less time than the fastest shipping transport, travelling night and day, takes to mako the journey in one way only. The transport of mails between England and India is thus reduced by at least half.

•The route crosses 13 countries, tinmachines alighting in Tndia, Baluchistan, Persia, Iraq, Trans-Jordania. Palestine, Egypt, Italian Libya. Greece, Italy, .Switzerland, France and England. Three different types of machines arc operating on the route. The section from India along the Persian Gulf and over Traq via Basra and Bagdad to Egypt, is flown by triple screw tie Havilaud .Jupiter air liners especially built for operating in the extreme climatic conditions prevailing there. In Egypt a change i c made to big all-metal short Jupiter flying boats which carry the mail to Genoa. Here they are placed on board the night train to Bale, the only section of the entire journey not covered by air,- as the Bale mails arc transferred 'tp 21-seater triple screw Armstrong Siddeley air liners and are flown via Paris to London. A WOMAN PASSENGER.

Miss Chetwynd. a daughter of Lord Chetwynd, vice chairman oT Imperial Airways, who arrived at. London ves terday from Karachi ill the first Jndian-England air liner, had novel previously entered an aeroplane. Sin says llmt the journey was oxtreiucU comfortable and interesting and she never experienced one moment’s nervousness. She is the first of her sex l< make the India-Englaml flight. Sir /Vveil Vvvyan, who. made- the journey to India, and 'back .again, covering 10,090 miles in 15 days, ;■ said the only trouble ‘experienced ' was with sandstorms, which even extended to s lie i gli t 10,000' fepfc °PP ross ' v(> Persian -GDli* was avoided by ,ily|ii<j pver it at a bright of (KM) feefc>^j^^ot4^.yi%^P e 11 iul i,ei ‘ l ’ 54 hafirs eacih way.. I’i n istei> el Hon re. also flew'about 10,0(1(5-miles in U days, including several,.thousand mileover the- northern part...of the African air route"to Cape Town, getting nearly to* Uganda. •