FLYING THE TASMAN

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1930, Page 2

FLYING THE TASMAN

YOUTH PLANS WEEKLY SERVICE

SYDNEY, May 1

Big trees from little acorns grow. Will a weekly, air service across the Tasman form Sydney to New Zealand be the outcome of the dreams of a Sydney youth, Rowland Ashworth, a 20-year-old 'engineer, who is carrying out regular experiments in his home iri one of the suburbs? Rowland Ashworth’s plan may sound ambitious, blit lie is an ambitious youth. When lie says there is no, reason why ■ there should not be a regular service’ across the Tasman, ’there are hundreds who will agree with him, and it is certain that lie Will not be scoffed at as an idle dreamer. It is all a matter of organisation—and money. Money seems to be' the all-important tiling, for no such service could be carried on without the right type of machine, and the right type is expensive.

Rowland Ashworth proposes a fleet of four flying boats constructed to his own. design. He lias already constructed a working model of his aeroplane, which would have a wing span of; 119 , feet and a. length: of. 90 feet. Each ' Aeroplane would be fitted with four Siddeley Jaguar engines, capable of developing a horse-power of i 500.! . >'Pass<itt'gers; entMrking ; gt Sydney 5 could’ bb landed ’in Auckland or i Wellington, jhe says ;at .a cost of £lB a head.

Of course, the danger of an ocean flight is a forced kidding, and that is why he proposes to employ flying boats,' which, lie says, would be able to alight on the roughest sea and remain safe. Then, each machine would carry' 'wireless, and in the event' of need, assistance could be summoned The fuel would be carried in the wings.

Ashworth has already submitted Jips . flans and m,odeil 'to prominent airmen and be says that they have expressed their confidence in his design. He now hopes to raise a company to finance the scheme.