Eighteen American bombers, described as the most powerful of their type in the world, have flown from San Diego to Honolulu in the greatest mass formation flight on record. One by one. with their huge bulk, a large supply of petrol and a crew of eight or nine each, they took off and flew to the American possession in the Pacific on, what is officially termed a mere routine replacement, but it is well-known that, as other squadrons will follow, it is the American intention to make Hawaii one of the world's greatest air bases. Four flying boats of the Royal Air Force have reached Australia from Plymouth on the longest formation flight yet undertaken and no mishap has attended their flight although a fifth flying boat has been delayed at Akyab owing to engine trouble. And so these routine formation flights are being carried out with considerably less fuss than. some of the stunt flights of individual airmen whose aim ta cover incredible distances at unusual just about balances their desire to obtain publicity. The truth about the world of aviation to-day is that too much is said about individual stunt flights and too little about the ordinary efforts of government and commercial air units which maintain regular planned schedules and attract as little romantic interest as the steamship or the railway train which have carried people safely for decades. True, accidents happen but they decreasing in number and due commendation should go to those who strive to fit new inventions into the ordinary pattern of daily life as well as to those who do things just to prove they can be done.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.