IN THE AIR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1729, 21 April 1913, Page 7

IN THE AIR.

FIRST UNIT OF IMPERIAL FLEET.

THE MONOPLANE ZEALAND,

By Telearanh.—Press Association—Oourrlclil (Rec. April 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, April II). Tho Imperial Air Fleet Committee has been offered Homel's monoplane Zealand, and has accepted it as the first unit of an Imperial Air fleet. Tho newspaper "Standard" has inaugurated ;v public subscription towards the scheme. Jlr. William Coward has subscribed two hundred pounds and guaranteed six hundred. Sir Joseph Ward und Lord Desboitiugh have given generous subscriptions. notable non-stop flight. ACROSS. FIVE COUNTRIES. London, April 18. IT. Hamel, the aviator, who; with a passenger, mado a non-stop flight from Dover to Cologne in 215 minutes, estimates that he flew 310 miles. Severo storms, which were experienced when ho was crossing Belgium, compelled M. Ilamel to rise to a great height. The monoplane was driven north-east and traversed live countries. It carried a weight of 17S0 pounds. BALLOON DISASTER. FIVE PEOPLE KILLED. Paris, April 18. The occupants of a balloon were seen to bo in difficulties at Fontenay-Sous-Bois. They had apparently allowed too much gas to escape. The balloon struck a housetop, and. a storm of hail and rain then swept it fivo miles, drifting against houses and 'telegraph posts. Finally it collapsed. The five occupants were killed. A NEW AIRSHIP. (Rec. April 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 19. Sections of the new airship from the Astra works, Franco, are being erected at Faniborough. It will be of 360 horsepower, and has a capacity of 350,000 cubic feet. 1