THE ATLANTIC FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 218, 9 June 1919, Page 5

THE ATLANTIC FLIGHT

"TROUBLES OF N.C3 IMPOSSIBLE TO RISE FROM SEA (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright N London, May 27. Lieutenant-Commander Linsley, who has, arrived in London from.tho Azores, states that N.C.S mistook an, American warship for one of the destroyers marking the course The navigator' planed down to verify his position, but, owing to the clouds, mado a premature landing 1 en the water. The waves were . thirty feet high, and;the wind was blowing a gale; and this made it-impossible', for the seaplane to rise again. The aero plane turned its nose to the wind, which was blowing in the direction of the Azores, and was moving at 12 knots, when a United States destroyer came up. The difficulties which "N.C.S encountered on the surface of the Atlantic gave an indication of Hawker's troubles while : awaiting the Mary's assistance.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn,

COMMANDER TOWERS INTERVIEWED « THE FIGHT WITH THE' STORM; (Rec.. June 8, 11.5 p.m.) "* .New York, May 29. • The "World's"' Lisbon correspondent interviewed Commander Towers, of the United' States trans-Atlantic flight expedition. He said: "On the flight from Trepassey to Ponta Delgada I fouud it a dangerous test. The effect of the continuous mental and physical strain and .drowsiness was almost insuperable.' T was compelled to give one, of my men two doses of strychnine in order to avoid sleep.. .My 'plane, N.C.3., became lost when we had about -two hours' supply of petrol left.'and we determined to land on . the water.. When we descended near tho surface we saw that the. sea was very rough, but it was then too late.'aud we ■were compelled to alight. A big wave hit the 'plane and seriously damaged it, though subsequently we wore able to continue, with oux own power on the surface of tlie sea to'Horta v .. s We had no drinking' water, and were compelled to drink the water from the. radiators. This water wag full of iron fust and oil. At Inst the weather grew bad'and the storm camg down. Huge rollers continued to hit.the •'plane and broke off the pontoon wings and pierced the fusilnge. Night descended and the cockpit'began to leak. I stationed two watches, arid each man pumped for several : hours. . We rigged a sea anchor and continued to fight the storm. Through'the : night we continued to send out'wireless'-messages..and when morning came the destroyer Harding arrived to our rescue. We were very hun-' gry and were unanimous that bacon and "eggs formed the best dish.in the world!" —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■

N.C.4'S FLYING TIjME, 1 ' (Rec'Juno'B, 5.5 p.m.) 'New York, May. 28. The' New York "Times" Washington Mrrespondent says the United States seaplane N.TU covered 3150 miles,. the actual flying; time. being ' 43 hours 33 ■minutes. ■ During the trip, from Book- \ ■ away to Lisbon the average speed was 72 miles ail hour.—Aus.-N.Z.' Cable Assn.

■';■" HAWKER'S FLIGHT GRIEVE'S NAVIGATION EULOGISED. ".. . , • London, May 27. Aviator experts, commenting, en Haw- . iter's .flight, express admiration for Lieutenant Grieve's navigation, which kept the machine dead on the course to the end. A detailed report is eagerlv awaited, especially on the .use of smoke bombs to measure drift, and the use of wireless messages from passing vessels — Aus.-N.Z/ CaMe' Assn. : ' "

WRECKED AEROPLANE AT FAL. MOUTH. ' .(Rec. June 8,'11.5 p.m.) [ '; '"''_''■■• ■ ■■/■'" ■••"' London; May-2D.' Hawker s aeroplane, which has arrived at Falmouth,'was kept afloat'by the petrol tanks. The mail bags were all saved. The wrecked machine will probably be given to the Museum. . Hawker believes an: examination of the engines «!! R J y , e , Tfll "« 1 Jle information.-Aus..' N.Z. Cable Assn.

RAYNHAjTCMACHINE ,' ; AEY< PARTS BEING SENT FROM ENGLAND. .(Rec. June .8, 5.5 p.m.) ••_■'' New York, May 27. The Kew York "Times" St. John's correspondent reports that Eaynham expects to receive from England shortly an extra engine and tho necessary parts with which to repair the Martvnside aeroplane. Raynham believes the "'plane will be ready-for a trial flight within a -fortnight—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. "' ' fßaynham unsuccessfully attempted 'to start on the trans-Atlantic flight shortly ! ii started - bat uis "eroplano fell 200 feet to the ground, and was bad-' ly damaged."]

WOMAN TO FLY THE ATLANTIC (Rec. .Juno 8, 5.5 p.m.) ■ / New York, May 27. The New York "Times" Chicago correspondent states that Ruth Law, a famous aviatrix, has announced that she will attempt a transatlantic flight in a Curtiss biplane, eomipped with' two Curtiss-Kirk-ham motors otMOO horse-power each. She will be accompanied' by a mechanic — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BRITISHBIPLANE TO ATTEMPT THE TRIP (Rec. June 8, 11.5 p.m.) '; • i'i V i-i il 8w York ., May 29. Iho New York "Times" St. John correspondent says that Lieutenant Wil-' hams,, of tho British Army, has arrived from Liverpool to make arrangements for the-arrival of the Alliance Aeroplane Company s biplane, which will also at: ■ tempt a trans-Atlantic, flight. Tho biplane was specially built for the Atlantic journey, is equipped with a single 150 horse-power.. Napier-Lion engine, has )i speed of 130 miles an hour, and will carry sufficient petrol for a cruising radius of twenty-six hours. Captain Curtiss, of tho Royal Air Force, will be the chief pilot, and Peters will be (he navigator. Tho biplane will make a-trial flight from England to Madrid, coming from Spain, by steamer arriving -about June G.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable' Assn.

DIRIGIBLE R. 34 TO START WITITIN A FORTNIGHT. (Rec. June 8, 11.5 v.m.) _. . ... London, Mar 29. Dirigible R 31 has been handed over to the Admiralty, and will 1 attempt the trans-Atlantic (light within-a fortnight.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '

NEW YORK-PARIS NON-STOP FLIGHT (Rec. June 8, 11.5 p.m.) New York, Hay 29. Raymond Orteig, a. Frenchman, has announced that he will offer a-twenty-five thousand dollars, prize to the first man to make a non-stop aeroplane flight between New York and Paris or vica versa. The aviator must be a subject of one of the Allied nations. The Aero Club of America rail announce the con. ditions of the flight—Ans.-N.Z. Cable .Assn.

THE ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA FLIGHT (Rec. Juno 8, 5.5 p.m.) London, 'Juno C. Tim Kangaroo's pilots do not regard the flight to Australia as hazardous. They admit the possibility of delays. In the event of being forced to land in remoto parts, the ■ wheels are fitted with larse covers to enable a landing in sands or swamps.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. fA message published on Saturday stated that three Ausralians—Lieutenants Kingsford Smith, V. Rendle, and C. B. Maddocks—will leave Leeds a week hence.for Australia, flying in a twin- ' engined. Blackburn-Rolls-Royce Kangaroo biplane. They, will carry sufficient petrol

for a 1350-mile non-stop journey. They will also take a small quantity of cargo. They will call at Port Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney, on<l Melbourne.!

THE DAMAGED TRIPLANE DESIGNED TO BOMB BERLIN. London, May 27.' The TaTrant triplane which was damaged at Farnborough was designed to bomb Berlin, and could have carried cut an attack lasting two hours, and dropped sixteen 5501b. bombs. The aeroplane weighed nearly twenty tons, and was capable of carrying a hundred people. When the crew of twelve had taken their places the six Napier Lion engines, of 500 horse-power each, wero turned on, but the mammoth craft failed to rise, and nose-dived into the earth. Tho tail shot info the air and the body buckled up—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.