Page
BRITISH AIR
THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY
1938.
DESIGNERS
ARE LOOKING
LOOKING AHEAD
7 MILES
A MINUTE
30-TON SEAPLANE FOR U.S.
Aeroplane designers, whose brains conceived the 300 miles per hour A 30-ton naval seaplane is being Fighters now going into production constructed at San Diego, California, for the R.A.F., have already con-by the consolidated aircraft corpora- sidered the next advance in speed. tion. It will be larger and more Mr. A. H. R. Fedden, the principal powerful than the pan-American designer of the numerous classes of clippers now in operation between Bristol aero engines, expects within San Francisco and Honolulu, which the next few years medium bombers it resembles in general design. with a cruising speed of 300 miles Four radial engines will deliver a an hour, and "heavies" of 275 miles total of 5,200 h.p. and will allow an hour. One class of military aero- cruising radius of 5,000 miles. plane, the Fighter, may, within the
The aeroplane's armaments will next five years, reach a maximum consist of forward, midship and aft speed of more than 425 miles an gun turrets. There will be ample accommodation for a complement of fourteen men.
hour
Fighters and interceptors are the fastest, and their speed progress may be roughly represented as:
In 1925
1932
1938
A
It is understood that if tests prove satisfactory, the navy department will order a fleet of such monster 155 m.p.h. 240 m.p.h.. 300 m.p.n.fighting seaplanes to augment the
The types going into service next United State navy air arm. year will exceed 300 miles an hour.
The exact performance is not yet divulged:
ments.
“LIFE" OF A TYPE
The launching of a seaplane by derrick from the Swedish aircraft- Eight seaplanes are cruiser Gotland which recently visit ed Falmouth.
(Fox Copy- carried on the vessel, which is fitted with catapult gear. right).
German Planes Now As
Good As Britain's
er before the R.A.F. expansion pro- gramme. Ordering straight off the About six or seven years is the drawing-board has of late met with "life" of a type as standard equip-great success, but it does not mean ment. The period may tend to leng-that no modifications are necessary.
SAVING A YEAR then, owing to the greater robust
Germany's aeroplanes now equal output of aeroplanes was con- ness of all-metal machines and the The Air Ministry has effected one in power and performance, though cerned, though it might have Great curious effects on the development increasing cost of big-scale replace- (important time-saving method. For-not in numbers, those of
merly one prototype machine was Britain and America. France, on of the aircraft industry in years to A decision to adopt any important built, and the work goes on simultan- the other hand, has fallen sadly come.
Obsolete Planes re-equipment plan depends upon what treatment by various experts and behind.
of "The grouping and control
Another possible result might be other countries are doing, and also committees, each demanding altera-
the on financial considerations. Such tion, the work of one in some cases French aircraft firms looks like ap- that five or ten years hence
proaching perilously to the appoint- majority of the squadrons of the decisions are a heavy responsibility, upsetting the plans of others.
ment of commissars in the Rus-Royal Air Force would be equipped calling for technical knowledge and Nowadays three prototypes are fine judgment, weighing a great built, and the work goes onsimultan-sian fashion," writes. Mr. C. G. with completely obsolete aeroplan- number of considerations.
eously, with the result that a year Grey, editor of "The Aeroplane," es.
in his preface to the 1937 volume Before a new type goes into pro-for more is saved.
of
“Jane's · All the World's duction 18 months or two years are Although a speed of 425 to 450
Aircraft.” as the spent in the drawing office, the con-[miles an hour is foretold
Speaking of British air rearma- struction of the prototype and its maximum attainable in the next few testing, and inevitable modifications. years, it does not follow that it willment, Mr. Grey says the Air Coun-
This trial period was much long-be desirable.
ENGLAND IN 5 DAYS?
"Test We Are Flying" By Douglas DC-3 Air Liners. THREE SERVICES
WEEKLY.
Dep: SUN; WED; FRI. Singapore- at 5.45 a.m Penang
at-9.00 am
Bangkok at 1.30 p.m
Through Fares On Application. Reduction For Govt. Officials & Officers
"
KLM
ROYAL DUTCH AIR LINES
AGENTS: JAVA CHINA JAPAN LINE YORK BUILDING, CHATER ROAD. Phone 28015, (Passage Dept.)
cil, given a free hand, proceeded boldly to order aeroplanes and motors straight off the drawing- board without waiting for the old complicated process of building and testing prototypes.
A ridiculous situation had arisen a year or so ago, when some of the big and medium American passen- ger machines were fast enough, if fitted with guns, to chase most of the world's high-speed fighters out of the sky.
Mre
Grey believes that the future of private flying is on the "hire and fly yourself" system.
"Certainly," he says, "Great Bri- carried much greater Several years had been saved by tain has
the this new, bold stroke, and these weight with the nations of
have other nations were squadrons in the R. A. F. world since already armed with machines learned that not only are we build- which were among the most deadlying up an enormous air force, but secrets of the Air Force only that our latest aeroplanes
a
year ago."
The Shadow Scheme looked like being a huge success, so far as the
THE
A
which
are just going into production and mai
a little bit ahead of the rest of the world.”
WORLD GOES BY By "ULYSSES"
GERMAN scientist hopes piece chipped off a vertebra he shortly to perfect imitation made such progress that he hoped coal. Too late. Coal merchants to be back at work this month.,
been have been delivering the stuff for His later recovery has
slower, and so it has been decided years.
to give him a longer period to convalesce.
Sir Archibald Clark: Kerr has The London "Daily Telegraph"
not been appointed temporarily, so writes:
The appointment of Sir Archi-Sir Hughe will be at the disposal bald Clark Kerr as Ambassador to of the Foreign Office for another China means that Great Britain post.
will have one first-class Ambas. It is not likely to be long delay- sador în reserve, as it wert, at ed. One of the ablest and wittiest G.H.Q.
of Ambassadors can ill be spared. Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugesson Perhaps, however, Sir Hughe will made a remarkably good ea covery from his wounds. man who has always kept hr. very fit. In spite of being through the kidney and having
beguile h his convalescence. with writing light verse, of which he is a master.
His best effort, I believe, was written shortly before he was shot.