THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 15, 1987.
Speed And Comfort Of Modern Flying
REVOLUTION IN
AIR MAIL
Ever since the world's first air mails were flown from Heston to Windsor in 1911 the cherished am- bition, first of Governments, then of Air Ministries and later of Air Transport Companies, has been to make air transport the recognised, regular means of carrying mails.
It was the privilege of a party of possibly for a short spell of sleep. visitors, the other day, to tour the works of Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd. at Hamble, near Southampton, and inspect the various stages in the construction of the new giant 4-engined land- planes which are to be used by Im- perial Airways: on European and Empire routes.
Air Force Officers Marry Young
་་༑
Apart from the many striking technical features of these great all-metal machines, every possible step is being taken to ensure the comfort. of passengers. Saloon ventilation, for example, will be such that the air will be at a com- fortable temperature in all climatic conditions. The heating system, Twelve of these new air-liners also, is of a special type, providing are now under construction. They a supply of absolutely fresh air will be known as the "Ensign” or heated to any required temperature. 'E' class. These new ‘E' class aîr- Special attention is being påid craft are high-wing cantilever to the question of rendering these Air mail contracts were the basis on which most of the world's exist-monoplanes of all-metal construc- airliners silent as well as swift in
Young officers of subaltern rank ing air routes were founded, and, tion with retractable under-carria-flight. Not only are the engines
ges. Their four engines, of the out on the wings, away from the in the R.A.F. are now marrying not least among them, of the
Armstrong-Siddeley. Tiger'
Before the war type, hull, but a form of engine mount-at an earlier age. K.L.M.'s Amsterdam-Batavia Ser-
pre-
it was exceptional to marry before 'vice.
Air mails made these routes will develop a total of 3,400 horse-ing is being adopted which
power, and each air-liner, when eludes any possibility of vibration, the rank of captain, or its equiva- economically possible and in re-
fully-loaded, will weigh slightly creeping through the structure. A lent, had been attained. turn the various national Air
over 20 tons. The maximum speed complete and up-to-date system of Cases have occurred in the Transport Companies have sought will be in the neighbourhood of 200 sound-proofing is also being carried Force of officers getting married to reward the enterprise of Postal
out throughout the interiors of the immediately after leaving the Cadet Authorities and the commonsense
Equipped for European air aircraft. Other features that will College. On leaving the Cadet Col- of the General Public by constant-routes, the air-liners will have ac- appeal to travellers are the complete lege they hold the rank of Pilot ly reducing air mail surcharges. commodation for 40 passengers. As kitchen equipment, enabling full-Officer, and in that rank a few mar-
This summer the first
used on Empire services the day course meals to be served while înriages are made. They amount to charge air mail scheme will be put accommodation will be for 27 pas-flight; also a promenade deck where about 2 per cent. of the total num- into operation. From June 1st on-sengers, while there will be com- passengers will be able to stretch [ber. wards all mails between Holland fortable sleeping-berth accommoda- their legs. and the Netherlands Indies will be automatically carried by air unless express specified, to the contrary.
· non-sur-
miles an hour.
tion for 20 passengers.
The great streamlined hulls of these air-liners suggest speed dir-
Air
A cadet leaves the College at about 20 or 21 years of age, and Developments In Air-Freight
after serving as a Pilot Officer for Transport
a year or so, with pay of 11s a day, Reports to hand from many coun-rising to 14s 6d, becomes a Flying The air mail rate is being reduced ectly one's eyes rest upon them;tries all tell the same story of pro- Officer at 188 2d a day. At this to 121⁄2 cts. (approximately 3d.) for while an inspection of their inter-gress in the dispatch of freight-
& marriage stage he qualifies for the first 10 grams (35 oz.) and the indicate the spaciousnes of the ac- the beginning of this year,
iors, and of the various saloons, loads by air. In America, since allowance, bringing his total income boat mail rate raised from 6 cts. to
air- from the service to 2520 29' 6d a commodation that is to be 12% cts. for the first 20 grams, and
made freight transport has been beating year. After two years the pay rises available for passengers. only if it is explicitly indicated on
all previous records. In Canada to £1 0s 10d a day. One of the features of the inter- aerial cargo the envelope letters will be for-nal equipment will be the special veloping rapidly.
traffic has been de In from four to six years he warded by boat. Since 10 grams
More loads of would be promoted to Flight-Lt., the armchairs which have been defur, for example, have been com- equivalent of Captain in the Army, is ample allowance for at least four veloped by Imperial Airways. While ing down by air from quarto sheets of the latest ultra-seated in one of these chairs, and posts. Air traffic to and from min- tion to the rank of Squadron-Leader northern with pay of $1 3s 6d a day. Promo- light air mail paper, it is expected by a simple movement of levers, ing" areas that the amount of mail carried by one can adjust the chair to various machines of a weight-carrying type and
is increasing. Bigger is usually between the ages of 29 sea will be practically nil. Sea- angles, these ranging from an up- are coming into service. .borne letter mail will virtually right position to a luxurious. re- In Australia air-freight
clining angle when one feels the tions are so encouraging that a spe-
have ceased to exist.
35...
very
The inauguration of this mail need for complete relaxation, or cial organisation is being developed led if it involves, as it usually does,
the
COST OF EMPIRE AIR BASE
service, which will doubtless very soon be taken as much for granted as are the telephone and all other miracles of modern invention, is the culmination of years of per- The chairman of the Portsmouth severing endeavour on the part of airport committee, Clr. A. Johnson, pilots, management and aircraft replied at a meeting of ratepayers constructors, The arrival of the at Portsmouth to the protests or Douglas DC 3 air liner has enabled [ganised against the proposal that the KL. M. to embark on it. The ratepayers should bear part of the Dutch Post Office estimates that burden of providing an Empire air the new rates will have the effect base in Langstone Harbour, at least of doubling the quantity of The scheme for 2 land-locked mail carried. It is with this in-harbour and an aerodrome at crease that the "Ibis" and her sister ships are designed to deal.
FLY, DON'T CABLE!
Long-Distance Air Travel
Farlington will cost the ratepayers £650,000 after a Government grant has been made of £550,000.
Mr. Johnson said that only by the establishment of the new air base could the present Corporation. airport be released for sale. Its sale would yield a profit far larger than Portsmouth's share of the cost. The maximum maintenance cost United States experts, returning of the new air base was £19,000. from trips to other countries, re- The Government had guaranteed port an all-round growth in long-an income for 15 years of £30,000 a distance travel by air. And this year, in addition to £6,000 a ∙ year increase in air travel is they de-representing the
clare, having a beneficial influence present aerodrome none of the
When the on other forms of travel. It is ex-scheme was in operation it would. pected that the introduction of lower the rates immediately by trans-Atlantic air routes, apart nearly 3d in the pound. from attracting passengers to these
flying services, will also stimulate The North Shields steam trawler steamer, travel. These experts General Joffre picked up aircraft wreck- reckoned, for example, that bust-g in her trawl nets off St. Abb's Head, Berwickshire, the skipper - de- ness executives in America or taching a small metal plate stamped Europe, who have hitherto been in with the lettering “41 H. 49994.” the habit of transacting business Blackcoated workers held a by cable, telephone, or letter, will demonstration at the Central Hall, decide to fly one way across the Westminster, in sympathy with the Atlantic, and will then return in a for trade union rights. Mr. George claims of workers in insurance offices more leisurely fashion steamer. Lathan, M.P., presided.
mass
There is no rule against condi- youthful officers of the R.A.F. get- ting married, but it is not approv-
sacrifice of the corporate life of a squadron at a period when this is important to the rising officer.
in which metal freight-planes will carry urgent loads from big cities to outlying areas.
42 DAYS
PENANG LONDON'
52 DAYS SINGAPORE LONDON
TWICE WEEKLY
Special Through Fares on Application Government Officials and. Officers
10% Reduction
KLM
ROYAL DUTCH AIR LINES AGENTS: JAVA CHINA JAPAN LINE YORK BUILDING, OHATER ROAD.