LONG FLIGHTS PROJECTED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 866, 12 July 1910, Page 5

LONG FLIGHTS PROJECTED.

In February it was announced that Dr. Gans-Fabricß, organiser of the I'ranKi'ort International Aeronautical Exhibition, had decided to attempt the crossing of the Atlantic in a balloon. Tho doctor than proposed to start from the I'ortu-gi-psi! coast in the middle of May, ami estimated that his voyngo would occupy six days. His idea was to rely mainly ou the trade wind to carry him to his destination tit u speed ui übimt 22 knots, and to use his motor only in case of the wind railing. No word, however, has sinco tomi< through of the project. ,-. After having his airships twice wrecked last; year Mr. Wcllman abandoned his attempt to reach the Pole for the time beins. From his baso at Spitsbergen ho would have had to cover a distance of ',00 mile.- across the ico lo the Pole. Discussing the prospects of the expedition last year "The Times" said that Jlr. Wellman was attempting a feat which both aeronauts and Arctic explorers had failed to carry mil. liven under the must favourable conditions no dirigible balloon had yet travelled more than 700 miles in any part of the work!. Vet Mr. Wolln.aii would have to double this to roach tho Pols and return to his base. Count do la Vaiilx, however, had once drifted 1280 miles in a balloon across Europe.

Last year's Wellman vessel was, as regards the gas bag, a very ordinary type of non-rigid ;ur-on|). 'J'ne car was merely slung from the envelope, and experience has shown Hint this type must necessarily be (he slowest, since an enormous amount of power is wasted through the car and the gas envelope being loosely connected. Jlr. Wcllman estimated his speed would be about, 18 miles an hour. Mr. Wcllman, "The Times" thought, had merelj a "sporting chance."