The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-04
BRITONS WILL
TRY 49, TON
SEA PLANES
Flying Boats for Atlantic
Line Designed for Safety
and Comfort
BY DAN ROGERS
United Press Staff Correspondent

ShAANu ftNS SNShi correspondent
LONDON, June 1. (UP).-
Characteristic British thorough
ness, caution and reliability mark
Imperial Always empire air Serv-
ices, now largely operated with
the same &C" class flying boats
Britain expects to use across the
Atlantic to America. Operation of
the ships and their schedules is
governed first, by safety; second,
by comfort. Speed comes last.
This correspondent embarked as
an ordinary passenger from Lon
don TO BrindiSi, via MarseilleS and
Rome, and return, To observe the
performance of the new flying
boats and the British method of
operating long distance flying
routes. Both the African and the
Indian lines of Imperial use this
route from England before di-
verging south and east.
The CaSSiopeia, outbound, and
the Courticr, inbound. are identi-
cal with the Caledonia and the
Cambria, which will fly the Allan
tic this summer. except for inte-
riOr arrangements to increase fuel
capacity.
LEAVE BY NIGHT TRAIN
London passengers must leave
by train the evening before for
Southampton. Imperial provides a
special pullman and hotel accom-
mediation on Southampton dock,
at no extra cost.
Arriving at southampton, each
pa.cngcr is handed printed card
of arrangements for the next
day-mcalS, stops. etc.-and this
is repeated at each overnight stop
on the trip. There is no night fly
ing.
4 light early morning fog cling
inc the surface of the harbOr de-
laycd the takeoff 30 minutes,
since there was some danger of
collision with small surface craft.
Within two minutes after takeoff,
the CaSSiopcia had cut through
low, dense white clouds and was
roaring acroS Sthc English Chan
mel toward France.
The leading edges of the wings,
ruddcr and struts were smcared
with a thick yellow substance
which looked like axle-grease.
Skipper Donald Bennett explain
ed.
COMPOUND IS EXPENSIVE
THAT may look like grease but
it isn't" he said. 1T costs 10 Shil-
lingS ($2.5O) a pound. 1t is to
prevent formation of ice. We put
it on from Southampton to Mar
settles"
Ii was noticeable, however, that
on the return journey this prepar-
alton was not employed, and the
crew of the inbound ship seemed
to hold it in low esteem. Imperial
is not sold on the type de-icer
which is now standard equipment
on many American airliners.
There are no seat straps in the
flying boats. Passengers occupy
big. soft armchairs which recline
at a touch. There is little table
in front of each chair. BcrthS
may be installed in the ships but
they are not in service yet. Land
ings and takeOffS are smooth; a
slight bump marks landing but
it is impossible to tell the moment
when she ship leaves the water.
After a flight of four hours and
four minutes across France, the
shin landed at Marseilles for re-
| fueling. Passengers landed to
stretch their legs, but France does
not allow Imperial to discharge
passengers here. Such traffic is
saved for Air France.
PLANES CLIMB HIGH
Clearing the mountains in
France and Corsica, and later in
Italy. it was necessary to climb to
| 10000 feet to get over clouds car
rying a threat of ice. The heating
apparatus of the ships is ineffec-
tive about 5000 feet; it was so
cold that passengers wore over
| coats ana on Top OI Iieil "iaPPSu
thick wooden blankets.
The Is l-2 ton ships are steady
i'm most winds. but the air pockets
usual over mountains make the
going almost as "bumpy' as in
smaller craft.
Lake Bracciano, in the crater
of an extinct volcano, is Imper-
iafs Rome airport, Is miles from
the city. Imperial cannot dis