TWENTY-TON MONOPLANE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 297, 7 March 1928, Page 9

TWENTY-TON MONOPLANE

SUCCESSFUL TEST LARGEST IN WORLD By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. The Air Ministry’s experimental allmetal monoplane, which is the biggest in the world, was successfully tested at Martlesham. It weighs nearly 20 tons and has a wing-span of 150 feet. Its three engines aggregate 2,100 h.p. The landing wheels are 74 feet in diameter. Accommodation is provided for 20 passengers. The design is an adaptation of the German Doctor Rohrbach’s ideas. Important developments wuth the new British type are expected.—A. and N.Z. BY AIR TO CANADA REGULAR SERVICE RUN LONDON, Tuesday. The Director of Civil Avia.ion, Sir Sefton Brancker, in the course of an address to the members of tie Institute of Transport, said the first regular airship route would probably be the one to Canada. Two airships, each to carry 100 passengers, were now being constructed and very likely would be flying this year to Canada. The route would be via the Azores. The Government might also organise a service to Egypt. The airships would not compete with shipping, but would comprise a useful supplementary service. In applauding Mr. Bert Hinkler for his recent flight to Australia, Sir Sefton said that if one man could do that without ground | organisation, it should be possible with properly improved aircraft and organised night flying to fly to Australia in 180 hours. This attainment would be within reach in five or six years if Britain got down to it and spent the necessary money.—A. and N.Z.