ALTITUDE RECORD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 173, 9 August 1937, Page 6

ALTITUDE RECORD

British Aviator's Feat The recent fligkt into the stratosphere by a British pilot, FlightLieutenant Adam, in an all-British miachiue, has set up a now 'altitude record of nearly 10 and a-quarter miles for heavier than air machines^. Th'is represents an advance of about 4000ft. on the previous a.tterapt in the samo aeroplane, and the biggcst step forward since height records began to be kopt in 1909. - The actual figure was recordcd oii sealed instruments, which were carried ing the wings of the aeroplane. WTkti tlio flight was over these' instruments were examined by' the National Physical Laboratory and the results officially communicated -to the Air Ministry. It is anticipated that in future all long distance flying will take place in the stratosphere, where far greater speeds are attainable than at' lower lebels where the air is of greater density, but much scientific rdsdarch is still rdquired bdfore anything of tho kind cau be attemptod. Onc of tho niain problems is to design an engine that will worlC cfficientlv' in tho rarcfied atroosphcrc of those altitudcs. The Bristol Pegasus engine which was instrumental in establishing this new record was an improved model of the one which made possible the famous flight over Mount Everest by ,Lord Clydosdali and Tliglit-Lieutenant McIntyre in 1933.