Sea-Dromes
p. 28 · Read in the full issue
U.S. to Construct “Floating Islands” Across North Pacific
THE sea-drome, long dreamed of by imaginative aviators, is very nearly here, states a cable from Washington, U.S.A., published in the Daily Telegraph (Sydney) on March 26.
The U.S. Department of Commerce will construct a series of “floating islands” across the Pacific Ocean, to guide the giant air-liners from the United States to Manila and China, as soon as funds are available.
There will be gigantic rafts to house four men, a radio station, a rescue-boat, and weather-recording instruments. The Bureau of Air Commerce has already ap proved of the plan, and will appropriate £250,000 to carry out the scheme.
The Pan-American mail and passenger service from San Francisco to China is operated weekly by three flying boats and five crews, adds the Telegraph’s Aviation Correspondent.
It is a five-day voyage from San Fran cisco with an actual flying time of 60 hours, calling at Honolulu, Midway, Wake, and Guam Islands, and Manila.
Long sea hops are involved, such as the first (overnight to Honolulu), 2,084 miles.