(Continued from page 28) reached the conclusion that aero planes could be built with an outer Covering of light alloy sheet which should be strong enough to carry Toads and stresses imposed on the structure without depending mainly fon internal bracing members—Immediately after the War the Short feompany began to work on these fleas and at the 1920 aeronautical exhibition in London it showed the Silver Streak biplane freighter.
'This was the first stressed-skin aeroplane to be built in the world. Tt contained no wood oF fabric ex-Jeept the wood in the airscrew: the Wing coverings wore' metal sheet. With & 200 tp, engine the Silver Streak reached maximum level [speed of 120 mp.h. and had a range.
cruising speed of 90 m.p.h.. of 450 miles. Ite pay load. excluding crew, was 400 Th, It went satisfactorily: through all of its. trials, but Mr. Short was in advance of his time, Jand quantity production of stressed-skin aeroplanes was not to materialize for many years.
Nevertheless, the knowledge gained in. building the "Silver Streak and subsequent experimental stressed [skin metal craft. provided the basis fof constructional technique and was turned to advantage by the Short Jeompany in the building of flying-boat nulls ariel seaplane floats, London has been brought within 8% days' Journey of Hongkong with the new Imperial Airways route ween Hongkong and Bangkok. This new air line will be a branch of the main England-Australia air route, connecting with the latter at Bangkok. and will supersede the former air me to Hongkong operated by Imperial Airways by way of Penang.
Stopping places will be Udorn, Hanoi, and Fort Bayard. The. new branch alr line is 1174 miles tong, Jagainst the 1,500 miles of" the former route by way of Penang. The change over will result in 2 more direct Journey to Hongkong. and it will be possible fo travel from London to Hongkong. by Imperial Airways. services in Bib days instead of 9% days us formerly. 'The service will be maintained by Imperial Airways liners of the Diana class. One air ier will Yeave Hongkong each Sunday. and another will stop' for the fight at Hanoi and will, arrive at their destinations the following day.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.