AIR TRANSPORT NEWS
Page 57
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BOUTS-TILLOTSON LONDON. MANCHESTER GOODS SERVICE.
On February 23 we announced provisionally that Bouts-Tillotson Transport, Ltd., intended to run an air service for freight between London and Manchester. The service was inaugurated on May 3 at Hanworth Aerodrome by Sir Philip Sassoon, and many important people were present.
An Airspeed Courier is at present being employed; in fact, it is only the production of craft of this kind, with cruising speeds in the order of 140-150 m.p.h., that has made it worth while to experiment with air freight services in this country, which question the Bouts brothers have long been considering.
The Courier should cover the journey in 11 hr., and it is intended at present to make one return journey daily, in the morning. The Manchester municipal aerodrome, Barton, Will be used. Rates and a precise time-table have not yet been determined and, of course, will depend greatly upon the demand. The company has large financial resources and is quite ready to use more and bigger aeroplanes and to open up other routes when required. A multiengined machine carrying about a ton is already being thought about.
The company's fleet of over 500 commercial motors can transport up to 2,000 tons of goods daily, and at present 20 lorries and trailers operate each way nightly on the London-Manchester route.
Le Touquet for Whitsun.
At Whitsun Messrs. Wrightson and Pearse will run air services between London and Le Touquet, using Heston Airport and Derck Aerodrome as usual. The fares are £3 single and £5 return, inclusive of road transport.
On Eriday and Saturday there will be three outward and three homeward departures, on Sunday two each way, on Monday three outward and two homeward, and on Tuesday two outward and three homeward.
Empire Air Day: An Opportunity for Coach and Bus Operators.
On Empire Day, Thursday, May 24, 80 Royal Air Force and civil aerodromes throughout the country will he open to the public. At many civil aerodromes there will be special flying displays and pleasure flights, whilst at all of the R.A.F. stations there will be plenty to interest visitors.
Motor-coach operators can contribute greatly to the success of the day and at the same time do useful business for themselves by applying to Traffic Commissioners for short-period licences for special services, also for facilities in the way of cheap fares. The Secretary-. :eneral of the Air League of the British Empire, Air-Commoaore j. A. Chamier, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., 0.B.E., writes to emphasize the importance of the opportunity and assures us that Empire Air Day is being well advertised by notices in the Press, by posters and by leaflets. Full particulars may be obtained from the offices of the Air League, 19, Berkeley Street, London, W.1, and the following is a list of the aerodromes which will be open to the public : — On Saturday, May 26, the following aircraft and engine manufacturers will permit the public to inspect their works : —Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, Ltd., Whitley, Coventry; Fairey Aviation Co., Ltd., Hayes, Middlesex; Rolls Royce, Ltd., Nightingale Lane, Derby; Saunders-Roe, Ltd., Cowes, Isle of Wight.
Gloucester and Cheltenham Aerodrome: Lease Open to Tender.
Tenders are invited by Gloucester and Cheltenham Corporations for the lease, by an operating company, of the aerodrome site at Staverton. Inquiries should be addressed to the town clerk, Guildhall, Gloucester, and sealed tenders should reach him by May 23, Human's Traffic Figures.
In the week to May 4 Hillman's Airways, Ltd., carried 117 single-journey passengers on the Romford-Paris route, and made charter flights to Salisbury and over Wembley; also 44 persons were given pleasure flights at Romford. IMPORTANT NEW 'RAILWAY AIR SERVICE STARTED THIS WEEK.
On May 7 Railway Air Services, Ltd., began the regular air service between Plymouth and Liverpool, which was provisionally announced on March 28. There is one departure daily in each direction and calls are made at Haldon (for Teignmotith), Cardiff and Birmingham.
At Cardiff the line connects with that of . Norman Edgar Western Airwa.ys, Ltd., to Bristol and Bournemouth, with further connection there for Portsmouth and Brighton, also (via Portsmouth) to Jersey and to London. Thus the network builds up.
Departure from Plymouth Aerodrome (Roborough) is at 8.25 a.m., with arrival at Liverpool Airport (Speke) at noon. The times for the return journey are Speke 3.30 p.m. and Roborough 6.40 p.m. The full-distance fares are £4 5s. single and £6 return.
At present a new 1934 Dragon G-ACPX is operating the service and is being flown by Imperial Airways pilots. Railway Air Services, -Ltd., emphasizes, with regard to this and the LondonCowes service started on May 1, that it is in co-operation with private enterprise and that antagonism is not its policy.
Spithead Ferry: Steady Traffic Since Easter.
In the week to May 3 Portsmouth. Southsea and Isle of Wight Aviation, Ltd,, carried 220 passengers between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.