AVIATION

Evening Star, Issue 19659, 12 September 1927, Page 7

AVIATION

AMERICA 70 AUSTRALIA

CAPTAIN SMITH’S FLAMS

iPrcss Association—By Tele jr aph—Copy ri "lit,

NEW YORK, September 10. It is understood that Captain Smith has decided to employ only an amphibian or seaplane ior the Australian tight, and may try to obtain Sikorsky’s flying boat for this purpose, equipped with threo special WrightWhirlwind motors. If ho fails in this, be will employ the Fokkor. machine used b k y Wilkins during his Arctic explorations.

THE OLD GLORY

MISUNDERSTOOD MESSAGE,

VANCOUVER, September 9. The Government agent at Halifax has been notified by Ottawa that the aeroplane Old Glory was sighted 400 miles east of St. John's.. Vessels have been instructed to render assistance.—A. and N.Z. and ‘ Sun ’ Cable.

OTTAWA, September 9. The report that the Old Glory was sighted is unconfirmed. The message was sent to Halifax simply to arrange for Canadian participation in the search for the lost plane.—A. and N .Z. and ‘ Sun ’ Cable.

ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA

PLANS COMPLETED,

LONDON, August 30

Captain W. N. Lancaster, an exAustralian soldier, who is now in the Royal Air Force, has completed plans for a flight to Australia to commence about September 25. Ho will be aceonipanied by tho wife of Mr Keith Miller, of Melbourne. Ho proposes to use an Avro Avian Cirrus Mark 2 engine, and will probably bo accompanied in a second machine by Flyingofficer Galpin awl Captain M'Evoy, belli of the Royal Air Force. The Australian High Commissioner, Sir Granville Eyrie, is strongly supporting tho adventurers, and has given them letters of recommendation, stating that ho is “ quite assured of their bona fides and capability to carry out the project successfully.” The proposed -route is almost identical with that followed by Denis Rook, who is at present in hospital at Calcutta, as a, result of an accident while engaged in a lone flight to the Commonwealth.

Captain Lancaster is a well-known athlete. He was captain and champion of the Royal Air Force boxing team in 1925, and was a former Rugby player. He is tho hero of spectacular parachute turns, and is known ■as “ Broncho ” Lancaster, because ho rode one of- Tex Austin’s bronchos at the rodeo at Wembley.

Several Australians resident in Loudon, including Sir Sydney Kidman, the Australian, cattle king, are assisting Captain Lancaster financially.

j THE PRIDE OF DETROIT.

FORCED TO LAND.

TOKIO, September 11. (Received September 12, at 10.30 a.m.) The aeroplane Pride of was forced to land at Omura, near Naga saki, owing to shortage of petrol, dim to going out of her course.—A. and N.Z. and ‘ Sun 1 Cable. HOOKE!ABANDONS FLIGHT DELHI, September 11. (Received September 12, at 11.5 a.m.) Rookc has _ abandoned his flight to Australia, owing to tho difficulties and delays in securing a new machine.—' At and N.Z. and ‘ Sun ’ Cable. UNNECESSARY RISK QUESTION OF LEGISLATION. , LONDON, September 11. (Received September 12, at 10 a.m.) Mr H. Day (Labor) will ask Mr Baldwin on’.the resumption of Parliament if tho Prime Minister will, in view' of unnecessary risk of life, consider tho introduction of legislation to prohibit financing ajid participating in flights with 'the.object of crossing tho Atlantic from Bfit/iin. MR LEVINE DETERMINED HEART SET ON GOING. LONDON, September 11. (Received September 12, at 10 a.m.) Owing to tho recent losses of Atlantic •flyers, strong pressure is being brought to bear on Mr Levine to abandon his proposed flight. A wide Press controversy is also in progress on the question of whether it is worth while to undertake the risks-

Mr Levine replies that somebody has got to bo the pioneer. “I say emphatically that it is worth while. My heart is set on going to America, and if the weather gives us half a chance we will go.”