AVIATION

Evening Star, Issue 19660, 13 September 1927, Page 5

AVIATION

CAPTAIN COURTNEY’S FLIGHT ■ WEATHER UNFAVORABLE , ABANDONMENT SUGGESTED. (British Official News.) Press Association—By Wireless—Copyright. : - RUGBY, September 10. The ‘ Westminster Gazette,’ largely under whoso auspices Captain Courtney was attonming the westward transatlantic flight, has telegraphed to Captain Courtney at Corunna that, in view «t the exceptional weather conditions, the lateness of the season, and the heavy loss of life which has occurred in the course of recent attempts to fly the Atlantic, it ’s definitely of the opinion that such attempts this year- should I The Anglo-American Oil Company and Nahicr and Son, who are also interested- in Captain Courtney’s flight, 'have signified entire approval of the journal’s action. Tho ‘ Gazette ’ conliders that the present position is one Tom wliicii any aviator concerned can retire with honor, and that further ationipts to fly the Atlantic this year inrolve an absolutely unjustifiable risk of human life. Apart from this, the country’ cannot afford to lose some of its hest ; pilots. This year’s Atlantic flying disasters are the- subject of leading articles in most of the newspapers this morning, and the opinion is generally expressed that these disasters make it clear that the wrong type of machine has_ been used, and that the land machine is unsuitable' for Atlantic flying. That tho Atlantic can be flown was proved as far back as June 15, 1919. when.tho British airmen. Alcock and Brown, (accomplished the feat; hut recent events have emphasised the- influence which the weather exerts. W hat is wonted is safe flying in any weather conditions. Tho viewpoint of the Air Ministry is that every effort should now bo concentrated upon the development of a large flving boat of metal, with its power plant distributed over a number of separate engines, and capable of carrying an ample reserve of fuel. SUGGESTION CARRIED OUT, Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. : LONDON. September 13. Cap I, ’iin Courtney has abandoned his Atlantic! flight. 5 MR LEVIHE ATTEMPT ALSO ABANDONED. LONDON, September 11. Mr Levine has abandoned his flight fa America till 1928.