Evening star., 1939-01-29
By Joseph s. Edeerfon.

ana go 10 WOIk. "A 1OuItIl Is JuSl dUOut
ready to slide down the launching ways
and two more are just step be-
hind.
The C. A. A. has yet to issue certificates
of convenience and necessity for the
transatlantic service and to set up
schedules of rates for the flying of air.
mail, express and, subsequently, pas
sengers.
The coming into being of fleets of
huge, swift flying boats, in the opinion
of off1cials of the United States Maritime
Commission, threatens the supremacy of
the new luxury superliner For this
reason, the commission has reported,
this country should make no effort to
engage in a luxury liner" race with
Europe Instead. it should reply with
flying boats to the challenge of such
queens of the sea as the Normandie,
Queen Mary, Rex and others even larger,
faster and more luxurious now projected
or on the ways in European shipyards
The reply, the Maritime Commission
has reported. should be decisive, for 1t
foresees a time in the not far distant
future when the super liners must yield
their supremacy to the super-airliner.
Faster, Cheaper and Equal.
In respect to transatlantic service,
the commission found fleet of 18 flying
boats on a daily service of three planes
a day would offer the same total pas
senger capacity per year as super-liner,
at a production cost for building the
planes estimated at s1S 00Q 900, as against
an American production cost Of $50
900 900 for the super-liner.
The existing volume of transatlantic
first-class mail is about 1000 to 5000
pounds per business day and the average
number of first-class express passengers
who pay somewhere near the proposed
airplane fare, estimated at $3.50 pas
sage, is 10000 year. One OF the new
airplanes, with a 40-passenger capacity,
could handle very nearly all Of the daily
uled round trip a day.
It has been estimated that minimum
of "a passengers day, or go per cent OF
the passenger capacity of one of the new
airliners, would be necessary for eco
nomically successful operation OF a
daily trans Atlantic air service. This
represents about per cent Of the exist
ing first class and cabin steamer traffic,
without regard to whatever new traffic
may be created.
The great Boeing super-clippers, with
their 5000 horsepower probably will be
the minimum in point of size the United
States will attempt to employ on the At
lantic routes. The engines, new 1,500
horsepower type, were developed espe-
cially for these flying boats after orders
for the airplanes themselves were placed
secretly three years ago following an in
ternational conference here between the
United States and Great Britain.
Plane Has Three Decks.
The super-clipper has three decks.
The fight deck, with posts for six flying
officers, Is located just beneath the upper
surface Of the wing. Forward on this
deck are the bridge and the captains
/ compartment. Aft, inside the wing it
self, are sleeping and living quarters for
the crew, including separate galley and
a cargo compartment larger than the
cabin Of present overland transports.
Below the flight deck, running the
length Of the ship, is the main deck, on
which passenger cabins are located.
These include private staterooms, both
fore and aft, dining and lounge cabin
and galley with all facilities for cook
ing. Hot and cold running water are
available throughout.
The lower deck, or hold, will provide
additional space for cargo in series OF
water-tight compartments running the
length Of the ship. Fuel tanks for a
normal supply of 5000 gallons, or Is tons.
are located in the wings and sponsons.
or sea wings.
The first of the super-clippers,
launched last June, was subjected by its
| builders to nearly i've months OF ex-