AIR TRANSPORT NEWS
Page 43
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REMARKABLE M.S.A.F. INTENTIONS.
Midland and Scottish Air Ferries, Ltd., intends to start on March 1 a London-Belfast service, via Liverpool, with connection from Glasgow, also a service from Liverpool to Hull. An extensive Western Hebrides service also planned, with calls at the islands of Iona, Thee, Barra, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, and Lewis (Stornoway). At present the company is surveying for landing grounds in the Hebrides. From Islay to Stornoway is about 200 miles.
Further Airspeed Works Extension.
Airspeed, Ltd., is negotiating with Portsmoutli Corporation for a further extension of its works at Portsmouth Airport. The present accommodation and Western extension already approved, at a cost of £2,706, will not serve the company's 1934 needs, and' a further £4,000 extension has been applied 'for.
London-Paris Fares Agreement.
Latest reports of negotiations between Imperial Airways, Ltd., and Air France concerning a London-Paris fares agreement suggest that a pool may be created from which either concern could be compensated in the event of rate-cutting by the other.
1934 Programmes Anticipated.
The Great Western Railway Co. writes to advise us that no decision has yet been reached respecting air-service facilities for the 1934 season. Spartan Air Lines, Ltd., and North Sea Aerial and General Transport, Ltd., Hull, also are not quite ready.
Scottish Aerodrome News.
Banff Town Council is negotiating for the purchase of an aerodrome site. Perth Finance Committee is considering the subject.
Air Trips for Rugby International.
Norman Edgar Western Airways, Ltd., is maintaining the Bristol-Cardiff air ferry as an on-demand service during the winter months, and is carrying on private-charter flying. On February 3 a party of Welsh miners from Tylorstown, Rhondda Valley, is to be taken from Cardiff to Edinburgh to attend the International Rugby football match. Some 3,000-4,000 supporters of the Welsh team invariably travel to Scotland or Ireland for the big matches, and air travel offers big advantages.
Multiple Companies at Aberdeen.
Four new Scottish companies have been registered in Edinburgh, all associated with aircraft progress in Aberdeen. They are Aberdeen Aerodrome Fuel Supplies, Ltd.; Aberdeen Airways, Ltd.; Aberdeen Flying School, Ltd.; and Aberdeen Flying Club, Ltd. The principal objects of Aberdeen• Airways, Ltd., are to develop civil and commercial aviation in the north-east of Scotland, to build aircraft and aerodromes and to operate services. Its capital is given as £8,000. The subscribers to all four companies are E. L. Gandar-Dower, lawyer and property owner, London ; Jenn e Louise Hopkins, Islington, London ; and Caroline Brunning, Hove, Sussex.
Aberdeen's first aerodrome, at Dyce, will be ready in a few months. A hangar for three aircraft is completed, and a pavilion is being built.
Heston : 1933 Progress and 1934 Plans. •
In 1933, 2,932 persons cleared customs at Heston Airport, or 57 per cent, more than in 1932, and the flying school carried out 50 per cent. more flying. This splendid aerodrome is being further improved. The opening of a new traffic hall for passengers will not be long delayed, whilst the expansion of general trading has necessitated the erection of a new hangar ; this is to be to the east of the three main lock-up hangars, and will embody steel framework erected by Boulton and Paul, Ltd., Norwich, and builder's work by Mr. William Lacey, of Hounslow. In 1934 also the landing ground will be extended by 38 acres to 105 acres.
NORTHERN LINE PLANNED FOR MARCH..
Since March 24, 1933, we have frequently published references to the airservice plans of Commercial Airways (Essex), Ltd., LoughtonAerodrome, Abridge. The Airspeed Courier, the ordering of which was announced hi our issue dated December 15, is expected to be delivered in March, when it is hoped to commence a regular service between Abridge and Glasgow, by way of Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh.; At present the company has at the aerodrome two Gipsy Moths and two ex-service Bristol Falcon -Ills. These are used for air-taxi work, and we are informed that flights have been made to Cardiff, Dublin, C,atterick, Blackpool. etc. Central London can be reached from the aerodrome by car in little over half an hour. The .shortest run at the aerodrome is 600 yards.
The East Anglian Aero Club uses the ground, and the instructor is Flying Officer L. H. Snelling.
61 Passengers on Romford-Paris Line.
In the week ended January 5 Hillman's Airways, Ltd., carried 61 singlejourney passengers on the daily Romford-Paris service, and made two charter flights, one to Blackpool and one to Seaford.
Rapier Engines Pass Type Test. The Napier Rapier II and IV engines have passed the Air Ministry 100-hour type test. The former is rated at 305 b.h.p. at 3,500 r.p.m. at 10,000 ft., and the latter at 340,b.h.p. at 3,500 r.p.m. at sea level.
This new form of Napier engine has 16 air-tooled cylinders in four banks, two banks being vertically above and two vertically below the crankcase. There are two geared crankshafts.
Projected Paris-le Bourget Road.
The Societe des Grands Travaux Aeronautiques has laid a project before the Paris city authorities for a new road between central Paris and le Bourget airport. If adopted the scheme should reduce the journey to about 20 minutes, although the distance is somewhat longer. A Spanish Line to the Canaries.
An air service, with three-engined aeroplanes carrying passengers and mail, has been commenced between Seville and the Canary Islands, a halt being made at Cape Juby, on the African coast. Already there is a daily service between Seville and Madrid, and an object of the island service is to promote tourist traffic. From Cape Juby to Teneriffe is about 213 miles, but two islands are crossed en route so that the longest open-sea stretch is approximately 70 miles. From Seville to Cape Juby is about 850 miles.