Solvin the Terminal-delay Problem
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE problem of shortening the terminal delays of air travel may be simplified as the resuit of recent technical progress with the gyroplane. This is a form of aircraft which obtains its support in flight chiefly from freely rotating planes instead of from a fixed plane or planes. lt can be flown very slowly, and so can make use of extremely small aerodromes.
Whilst to provide large aerodromes in the centres of our cities would involve very heavy expenditure, it would be feasible to arrange for a small platform (say 150 yds. square) a little above the level of the roofs.
A PLATFORM 150 " ' yds. long would be large enough to deal with considerable traffic. Gyroplane services could be run between the town" centres and surrounding aerodromes. also between one aerodrome and another, connecting the termini of main air lines. Terminal journeys now occupying 30 or 40 minutes could be reduced to 10 minutes or less.
The scheme is not at all original, but these sketches illustrate a way in which a serious problem of air-travel delay could be solved now, without looking ahead to the time when flying becomes general and warrants big outlay.