LUNCHEON IN MID-AIR

Shannon News, 29 December 1925, Page 2

LUNCHEON IN MID-AIR

EXHIBITION FLIGHT OF NEW AEROPLANE The Vickers Rolls-Royce Vanguard aeroplane, which accommodates 20 passengers in. comfortable armchair scats in a commodious cabin, was formally commissioned in the service of Imperial Airways recently, and in order to illustrate the advance made in the equipment and carrying capacity of the newer passenger aircraft a_cold luncheon was served to a party of guests while the machine was in flight over Kent and Surrey (says “The Times” of recent date). It is not pretended that we have yet reached the time when a four-course luncheon, with coffee and liquers, can be served normally in cross-Channel aircraft, lor unfortunately commercial aviation N has still to make itself a financial proposition with every ounce of available “lift” devoted to paying load. Yesterday’s effort, however, did serve to show that in a large passenger-carrying aeroplane of this type there is room for light sidefixing tables between chairs and passui.e space for two waiters to move about with the material for, a meal, which included such fare as lobster salad, veal , and ham pies, sweets, and the other accompaniments of a substantial cold lunch. Actually, for years past, air travellers to the Con r tinent have been able to take a light luncheon basket with them if they were so disposed.

Unfortunately the weather conditions yesterday were the very reverse of ideal for the physical comfort of those who were not “good sailors.” That so large a machine should pitcl to the extent it did was an indication of the disturbed state of the air at about the 1,500 ft. to 2.000 ft. level, but <dhc movement was very mild in its effect com pared with that which passengers on th** 'cross-Channel steamers must have experienced, and it certainly showed that liquid will remain quite comfortably in glasses on a table in an aeroplane of this typo during boisterous weather. Major G, H. Brackley. the Air Superintendent of Imperial Airways, piloted the machine with great skill, and his landinng in air conditions xvhich prodticed most uneven air currents quite close to the ground was beyond criticism. The Director of Civil Aviation (Sir Scfton Brancker) sat beside Major Brackley. who took the machine over the Crystal Palace and then on a course to Sutton, which gave an extensive view of the Thames and of London, half-hidden in mist.