AIR LUXURY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5305, 27 July 1928, Page 3

AIR LUXURY.

NEW AUSTRLIAN LINER. BIG AS SOUTHERN CROSS. Specifications have been completed by the Larkin, Aircraft Supply Co., of Melbourne, for a saloo.n monoplane to scat ten passengers, specially designed for conditions on Australian aerial routes. For- night flying the ’plane can be converted into a sleeper with five sleeping berths. The designer of the monpplane is Mr W. S. Shackleton, who arrived from London to join the Larkin Company last February (says the Melbourne Herald). Mr Shackleton was chief designer for Beia.rdmore’s, England,* for many years.

The new monoplane will be nearly a§ big as the Southern Cross. Passengers will be accommodated in; a saloon ■in the fuselage 13ft long 6ft high, and 'sft wide. .Luggage and l mails will fie carried in separate locked 1 compartments.

PILOT SITS WITH PASSENGERS.

Usually pilots have a special cockpit to themselves in paSsenger ’planes, but in this monoplane the pilot will s it in the saloon with the passengers, who can watch him at the controls. The pilot’s seat ami- cofithols are-in front of the saloon, surrounded by glass screeins for protection from the weather. These ■ sscr.ee.ns are fitted with windscreen wipers to facilitate vision, and-the windows immediately at the pilot’s side may be opened if desired.

The whole, of the fuselage is of steel tubular construction without welded joints. No wire- rigging is necessary, and the machine may be dismantled simply by -unscrewing nuts and bolts.

’ The single air-cooled engine is of more than 400 horse-power, and the aiijscrew is of metal. The complete engine unit may be dismantled by disconnecting six bolts and the controls.

A feature- of the construction is the unusually wide track of the undercarriage, which is of the splitaxle type, to ensure the maxium margin of safety in landing. Independent non-locking brakes are operated on, the wheels in conjunction with the rudder. - LUXURY IN SALOON. . The saloop will compare favourably with the latest luxury a'ir-liners of Europe. It will be lined tlfe length with glass windows. In adtion to the 'general electric dome lighting, in the roof, each passenger will have an. adjustable reading lamp to himself. < The standard seating accommodation, will be lounge chairs with adjustable leg and back- supports, and mounted in a way to minimise vibration. There will be a special instrument board in full view of the- passengers. so that they can see, 'how the ’plane is being flown. The sa,loon is heated .and ventilated by regulators on, a switchboard, and each passenger has his own collapsible table; Other features include a loud-speaker- (through which the. pilot caii describe points of interest), electric fans, and a double skin over the saloon to obviate “drumming.” The .interior of the saloon is lined with silky oak. The new ’pla.ne will be used on the company’s air routes.