ATLANTIC AIR RACE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 201, 20 May 1919, Page 5

ATLANTIC AIR RACE

HAWKER STARTS ACCIDENT TO RAYNHAM • PROGRESS OF AMERICAN SEAPLANES By Telflsraph-Press Association-Copyright London, May 16. Harry Hawker started on the Atlantic flight on Sunday Cable Assn. IDEAL CONDITIONS. St. John's (Newfoundland), May 18. A Sopwith machine, carrying Hawker and Grieve, left Mount Pearl uuder the most ideal conditions at 1.55 p.m. New York time, a light wind blowing from the east, with the sky cloudless and the 6unshine brilliant. The start was not announced, and the spectators were surprised when the Sopwith f ped over the city and steered due east. It then turned slightly to the south-east, and disappeared over the horizon. Rayuham unsuccessfully attempted to 6tart on the trans-Atlantio flight. His aeroplane fell 200 feet to Hie ground. Tho extent of the damage is not yet determined. 'A later message states that Raynliam's aeroplane was irreparably damaged in tho fall, and both Rayuham and Morgan were slightly injured about the, face.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NO NEWSOF HAWKER (Rec. May ,19, 7.40 p.m.) New York, May 19. No word has been received from Hawker at two o'clock on Monday morning (New York time).. Hawker dropped his under-carriage in St. John's harbour.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asbh.

' [Ham G. Hawker, the 'noted Australian aviator, flies a Sopwith biplane, of tho laud type, with an engine of 3(5 horse-power, weighing 6100 pounds, and with a flying speed of 10a miles per hour and a'cruising range _of 25 hours. Hawker, who has been with Raynham and other aviators for a lung time in Newfoundland, has been repeatedly d<v layed by l'o? weather and boggy conditions on tiie aerodrome. Hawker has been very successful in exhibition and prize [lights. He won tho prisso of £1000 given by the "Daily Mail" for the Around Great"Britain competition. Ho camo to Australia in January, 1914, and gave ex-hibition-flights at Gaulfield (Victoria) and Handwick. His machino then was a Sopwith biplane, of small dimensions, engineil with an 80 h.p. Gnome. When Hawker took up aviation at first, lie spent a year in England, learning all that could be taught in- those ;days (191213), jnd in the course of his studentfillip he made a. British aviation record by flying for 8. hours 23 minutes without a stop. After thut ho made what were then height records for pilot alone, pilot and one passenger, pilot and two passengers, and pilot and three passengers. Just before the war broke out, he succeeded in a flight ,around\Great Britain on a Sopwith seaplane.] THE AMERICAN FLIGHT N.C.S STILL MISSING. Washington, May 18. The. State Department announces that the seaplane N.C.4 will not leave 'the Azores for Lisbon until May 19, owing to the unfavourable weather. Tho N.C.3 is still missing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i'HE .£IO,OOO PRIZE. In 1913 the proprietors of the "Daily Mail" offered the sum of £10,000 to be awarded to the airman who 6hall first cross the Atlantic in an aeroplane in flight from any point in tlie United States, Canada, or Newfoundland to any point in Great Britain or Ireland, in 72 consecutive hours. The war .temporarilv shelved interest in the matter. The conditions of the contest are: Tho flight may be made either way across the Atlantic. The competition is open to persons of' any nationality holding an airman's certificate issued by the International Aeronautical Federation, and duly entered on the competitors' register of the Roval Aero Club. The entrance fee is JOIOO. No part of the entrance fee is to be received by the "Daily Mail." Only one aircraft may be used for each' attempt. It may be repaired-en route. It will be so. marked before starting that it can bo identified on reaohiug the other side. Any intermediate stoppages may-only be made on the water, lowing is not prohibited. Start and finish: The 6tart may be made from land or water, but in the lattor case' the competitor must cross the coast-line in flight. The time will be taken from thr- moment of leaving tho land or crossing the coast Kne. The finish may be made on land or water. • The timo will 'be taken at the moment of crossing the coast line in flight or touching land. If the pilot has at any time to leave the aircraft and board a ship, lie must resume his flight from approximately the same point at which he went on board. BRITISH DIRIGIBLEIo"MAKE THE TRIP New York, May 11 (delayed). Tlie- Atlantic City correspondent of the New York "Times states that BrigadierGeneral Charlton; British Air Attache in tlie United States, has anuounced that the British dirigible R33 is scheduled to attempt the trans-Atlantic flight from England to the United Strifes within three weeks. , The St. John's correspondent of the New York "Times" states that according to reliable information a United States Navy dirigiblo will probably start for St. Jolin's from New York within a few days. If the flight is successful the dirigible will probably attempt to cross the Atlantic to England.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn (Rec. May 19, '7.10 p.m.) London, Mav 15.' Tlie iron, manufacturing firm of Beardmore and Son arc building an airship of two million.' l'eet capacity.—Ans.-N.55. Cable Assn.