AIR LINER FOR PRINCE OF WALES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 26, 28 December 1932, Page 7

AIR LINER FOR PRINCE OF WALES.

FAST MONOPLANE ORDERED. The Prince of Wales recently ordered a twin-engined air liner for his own use. The type he has chosen is a highwing monoplane which in its commercial form has places for 12 passengers. It is the only all-metal commercial aeroplane built in England having wing and tail surfaces as well as fuselage covered with duralumin. Known as the Vickers Viastra, the typo has been in service for the last two. years on a regular air lino in Western Australia, where it has given high satisfaction. / The cabin, according to the representatives of Vickers (Aviation), Limited, to whom the order has been given, will be adapted to meet the requirements of the Royal purchaser. Upon the character of the fittings and the total of passengers which the .machine is expected to accommodate will depend its range of operation. In the standard type the cruising speed is 128 miles an hour and the range 535 miles in still air. With a lighter “pay load” the fuel capacity might be increased and longer non-stop journeys might bo undertaken.

This type of liner affords a saloon separate from the pilot’s cockpit. It is easily entered, without steps, from a door on tho port side, aft of the six side windows. In the rear of the machine are the usual offices of the Pullman car and a roomy luggage compartment. The saloon is 20ft. 3in long, sft. wide and 6ft. lin. high. The wing span is 70ft. The permissible loaded weight of this machine is 5£ tons, and of this 14 ton is “pay load,” or passengers and their luggage. During the past three years the Prince of Wales has had a Puss Moth cabin aeroplane of his own. This is normally a two-seater. The new machine will allow much more accommodation and a cruising speed at least 15 miles an hour higher. Its landing speed is 65 miles an hour.