BRITAIN'S LARGEST

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 214, 31 July 1939, Page 3

BRITAIN'S LARGEST

WONDERFUL AIR LINER TR A.NS AT LAN TlG' S'IPR VICE LONDON, July I.—Golden Hind, the world’s most wonderful air liner, is now undergoing vigorous trials here, where she has been made bv Messrs. Short Brothers for Imperial Airways. Together with two sister air liners, she will be used for the regular North ltlautic service, first for mails and later for passengers. This aircraft, if not quite the largest in the world, is certainly the most advanced in design, and her all-round performance probably will prove.superior to anything that lias taken the air as yet. Her British designer's have high hopes, and experts everywhere are looking forward to the result of her trials, which should start a few days after launching. It is anticipated that she will take about 16 hours to fly more than 3060 miles with 30 passengers without refuelling. On the Ire la nd-N ew lo midland run she is expected to take less than 16 hours against a 40 mile an hour headwind, or probably about IO.V hours in a dead calm. This is achieved with four engines totalling 5000 horsepower, which will give the Golden Mind a cruising speed of 180 .miles an hour and a top speed of well over 200 miles per hour. Accommodation for Passengers Passengers will lie accommodated in the centre of the hull, which forms a large hall 25ft. long, 12ft. wide and 19ft. high. To the front of this is a mail compartment, above which and on the second floor arc the crew’s quarters, with comfortable tables, chairs, and even bunks. By contrast with the original 160ten Golden Hind, the ship in which Sir Francis Drake sailed round the world '356 years ago—Britain’s new sky giant weighs about 17 j- tons, without fuel or crew. She is built almost entirely of aluminium and aluminium alloys. Here are figures which give some impression of the size of this ship which has t-aktfn 12 months of continuous work to complete : The overall length is 101 it. and the wing span is 134 ft. The width of the two wings is 25ft.. at their maximum and they are thick enough at their base for a. 12-year-old boy to walk through. The aircraft would be able to carry up to 160 people cm an ordinary “short stage” flight of about 450 miles. Golden Hind is new undergoing her makers’ trials, after which there are Air Alinistry trials and acceptance trials to be undergone before the maiden voyage, which it is hoped will take place early in the autumn.