TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17419, 1 April 1922, Page 11

TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT.

PORTUGAL TO BRAZIL. AMBITIOUS ATTEMPT. (By Cable—Frees Association —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cabl-a Association.) (Received March 31st, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 30. A Portuguese seaplane has departed on a flight to Rio de Janeiro, via the Canary Islands, St. Vincent (Cape Verde Islands) and Femando-Noronhu.

The proposed flight from Portugal to Brazil represents a new and ambitious project in trans-Atlantie aviation. The routo to be taken is very nearly a straight lino running south-east, and the stages are, roughly as follows: Lisbon to Canary Islands, 1200 miles; Canary Islands to Cape Verde Islands, 1200; Capo Verde Islands to Fernando Noronha (off tho north-east corner of Brazil) 1800 miles; thence to Rio d© Janeiro, 1800-1900 miles; a total distance of 5000 to 5100 miles.

The first flight across the Atlantic was completed by the American soaplane NC4. It left Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland on May 16th, and reached the Azorts Islands (1880 miles) nest day after a flight of 15 hours 19 minutes. Thenco it flew to Lisbon (1094 miles), and from Lisbon via Ferrol to Plymouth (895 miles) where it arrived on May 31st. In the same month the late Mr Harry Hawker made his gallant but unsuccessful attempt to flv from Newfoundland to Ireland. He was forced to alight on the water, and was picked up bv a Danish steamer. On June 14th Captains Aleock and Brown left Newfoundland and made a successful direct flight of 16 hours 12 minutes to Clifden. Ireland, where they landed next morning.