IN TWELVE HOURS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1931, Page 5

IN TWELVE HOURS

EUROPE TO AAIERICA. LATEST AIR WONDER. Jlio first “stratosphere airplane,” designed to fly from Europe to America in twelve hours at au altitude of approximately twelve miles, is nearing completion at the Junkers airplane works at DressiUn The first trial flights lire to take place in the spring, find tint first pilot has been selected. He is Herr Neueuhoven. a member of the duUlcers works. The “stratosphere airplane” js mu-, of two inventions with which Professor Hugo Junkers hopes to revolutioni.se air transportation. The other invention is a crude oil Diesel airplane motor with which successful trial flights were made last year. ()noe this crude oil motor is running to his satisfaction, Professor Junkers hopes to realise a dream of many years the construction of a monstei all-wing airplane, capable of carrying one hundred passengers in cosy cabins built right inside the wing. FAR ABOVE STORMS.

Tim “Stratosphere airplane - ' is to go so far up in the air that it will he far above all fugs or clouds or storms, in an nunosphei'e eternally calm and so mrifted that air-resistenee is reduced to a minimum and makes possible speeds of 400 and 500 miles an hour. The first, “stratosphere airplane’’ is a rather small macninp. seating only the pilot and two companions. 1 lie cabin is airtight, and will he furnished with apparatus to produce artificial air at normal pressure.

The machine will have only a single motor, which will be protected from thp icy cold by a double-walled covet - ing through which will he passed the hot exhaust gases of the motor itself. Above all. the airplane will have to develop a sturdiness and ability to withstand pressure hitherto unthought of in airplane construction.