Abstract
THE recent successful separation in the air of the seaplane Mercury from the flying boat Maia directs attention to the experimental work upon the matter of long-distance flights with commercial aircraft that is proceeding in readiness for the resumption of the Atlantic crossings during the coming summer. This combination, known as the Mayo Composite or “Pickaback” aircraft, built by Messrs. Short Bros, of Rochester, is an attempt to get a seaplane into the air with a wing loading that is prohibitively high for normal take-off, but is practicable for flight when once in the air at a safe height. The upper component is a heavily loaded seaplane that carries out the actual flight. This is carried on top of a comparatively lightly loaded flying boat capable of taking off and climbing easily and safely. When at about 5,000 feet the two separate, parting rapidly in a vertical plane, without risk of fouling or subsequent collision. Another method of attacking this problem is for the machine to start with a minimum of fuel, then sufficiently lightly loaded for safe takeoff, and take on its full load of petrol from a tanker aircraft while in the air. Messrs. Imperial Airways, in co-operation with Sir Alan Cobham, have been using one of the large Empire class flying boats, the Cambria, for tests upon this method, with satisfactory results so far as they have gone.
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Experimental Flights Across the Atlantic. Nature 141, 321 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1038/141321b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/141321b0