![[Short-Mayo Composite of Imperial Airways at Foynes. Large 4-engined flying boat "Maia" with small seaplane "Mercury" on top].](/IIIF/000250000/000249986/vtls000249986_001.jp2/full/800,/0/default.jpg)
[Short-Mayo Composite of Imperial Airways at Foynes. Large 4-engined flying boat "Maia" with small seaplane "Mercury" on top].
[graphic]
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| In collection: | The Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Collection |
| Format: | Photo |
| Published / Created: |
July, 1938.
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| Notes: | Imperial Airways experimented with two methods of getting over the problem of getting heavily loaded aircraft into the air with a reasonably short take-off run. The first was assisted take-off, and the second was flight refuelling. The assisted take-off came in the form of Short Brothers Mayo composite aircraft, which was a large four-engined flying boat similar to the Empire design called 'Maia', with a smaller seaplane ' Mercury' mounted on top. The 'Mercury' was designed to carry mail over long distances but when fully laden with fuel and mail, could not take off unassisted. Therefore the sole purpose of 'Maia' was to take-off with 'Mercury' on its back (all engines on both aircraft would be used for take-off), and when they got to a suitable height they separated and 'Maia' would return to base, whilst 'Mercury' set off on its journey. The first trial of 'Mercury' was on 21st July 1938, when it left 'Maia' near Foynes and flew non-stop to Montreal, 2,930 miles in twenty hours and twenty minutes. See also INDH2852. See also INDH957-962. Physical description: 1 photographic negative : glass; 9 x 12cm. more |
As a digital copy of this item is available, the original will not be issued.
| Call Number | View In | Collection |
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INDH962 |
NPA Reading Room - Appt. only |
Photos |
Reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland
