We flew at every level, up to 15,000 ft., as circumstances' and the Gaptain's' judgment dictated. T have often been asked to recount any thrill ing experiences which we had on the Journey, and have to give the dis appointing reply that there wore no thrilling experiences. If there were, things would not be normal, and the aim of an air operator Nowmality all the time. Like steam ships, we are at times affected by weather, and have to delay departure until it improves, Like rail. ways, sometimes fog retards or in: terferes with our Operations: but, unlike either, we are in the happy position that, as weather moves in strata across the earth, we can usually, by altering our altitude climb Out of bad weather or low cloud. Also, flying across desserts, na we d id, at several thousands of feet, we can see torrential rain storms in our path far ahead, and using our speed and power, we can fly round, or in some cases over them, and' in that we have a great advantage. On the other hand, 'Air' liners operate in a medium, amely the atmosphere, which is not stable, like land or seay in its widest fenge, and an aiveratt, fying with, or into the teeth of @ 0 mile-an: hour galo'is far more affected than a ship. Here arises one of the bie Problems of operating a route, like The African alr mail route. What ever: time we lose, due to head winds, we have to make-up; but, whatever Limo we gain, dus t0-a tail wind, we have to surrender at the next postal stop, because wwe cannot leave ahead gtachedule, There inno mete striking. spectacle toa novice in air travel than, flying as we did, at 9,000 ft, From Athens to Crete, over about 200 miles of sea; nothing but Brilliant blue sky above us, anda complete, unbroken carpet 9f thick feeey, show-white clouds, beneath then, guided by our wireless. oper for and his Direction-finding-ap-Paraius at Crete, to sweep down Through the clouds and land on the water in heavy rain, within a few rundred_ yards of our wireless station there, You will, of course, understand that, whehever our' Simers ave in the air, they are at all times in. wireless touch with the ground and can be given informa-Hon which enables the Captains to check their course and position. In fut flight we called upon, and paid four respects to, eight' different Governments. ent Airports Built by Municipalities To summarise my impressions of my journey: it was uneventful and not tiring. Although I and my party Feceived. boundless. hospitality from the Governors, High Officials and business communities, the whole way down the route, nevertheless we testing." Wherever possible the made a point of inspecting and
normal" accommodation offered to Passengers, which broadly speaking Is" adequate and. reasonably. cent: fortable, as our night stops: becom: more fed and permanent. The te Tnall. in now a major. part of the Life of the people, and a tremendous oon to, of fellow clit which have not got the highly developed Sea Service en-eyed by Cape Town, Durban, ete.
fe were also very much struck by the magnificent air ports, provided by. ies. and. other Tu the Union of South Africa they are very air-minded, "and take great pride. in Their air ports, which are mainly Municipally-owned. Altogether' the trip has been most instructive to us, And very useful; and, as the frat rear British aly route, built up as T hone others will be, on a co-perative basis, it has convinced. us of the enormous future which lies at the Teet of the Commonwealth. of tish Empire, and it will, I think, do more. than anything else to bind us close together.
Siv Erie also indicated that within the next two or three perial Airways may be al kanise a Transatlantic mail service faeross the Atlantic, whilst he has every expectation that the India Service will be extended to Australi by the Summer of this year. Thi Service will also "have an extension way of Bangkok to Honekong and Shanghai.
Predicting Trans-Atlantic Air
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.