AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1927, Page 2

AVIATION.

REACHES FRANCE. RAIN OBSCURES AERODROME. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, July 1. after Commander Byrd’s plane passed Rennes, a rainstorm broke at Le 1 Forget, thus complicating the problem of 1 is landing.

At ’.o' time Byrd appeared quite ci’ose to Lt Roni got. and then messages were sent oft that he was preparing to land; but. apparently, he failed to locate the aerodrome in the darkness and the rain, and therefore went off to (lie southward in search ot lights. The French M-rviee did their best to help. Rockets wet" sem tp and Mireless messages also wore r;; Ha'ed. thus giving Commander Byid n. it*-i j■! for estimating his hearing.

Meanwhile, similar messages worr being received from Byrd, asking for indications as to where to land, including one in which Byrd said that he had enough petrol to last him two and a-half hours, but that he was anxious to land anywhere. Commander Byrd, in another message. asked that an aeroplane should be sent up to guide him. PARIS, July 1. At one o’ei'oek in the morning, the situation as to Byrd’s landing was regarded as being so dangerous that all the wireless stations in France, with the exception of Lo Harve, were ordered to keep silence, so that Commander Byrd's messages might he received. The rain, however, continued to fall in torrents all night.

The spectators were drenched, but tliev waited stoically.

Then came a story of Byrd having made a landing at lssiy-Les-Moulinaux. It was a full and circumstantial ac-

count. and it described damage as having been caused to the machine. This story was generally accepted, until it eventually proved to be untrue.

The story followed a rumour that Commander Byrd had come down near Charters, smashing his machine, at dawn. The mystery is now almost complete, hut it is hoped that an aeroplane search will quickly solve it. DESCENT INTO THE SKA. LONDON. July 1. Commander Byrd’s plane descended in the sea at Yersurmer. By all accounts, the plane is safe.

NEW YORK. July 1. Commander Byrd was forced down at .sea at 5.45 o’clock this (Friday) morning (Paris time), near Versurmer. His crew is safe.

NEW YORK. July 1. A message from Roosevelt Field states:—A cablegram addressed to Mrs Richard Byrd, lias been received here from her husband this morning. It said well.—Dick.”

BYRD’S ARRIVAL. LONDON, July 1. It is reported from Versunier that fishermen making lor the shore as the result of finding an abandoned aeroplane, found Byrd and Neville asleep on the boa.cn at 3.45 a.m. Most conflicting reports are pouring in as to how they reached the shore. The men are now sleeping at a lighthouse where orders were given that they are not to be disturbed. The monoplane was anchored close inshore, awaiting the fall cf the tide to enable it to be salvaged at 1.30 this aiteriioon. The extent damaged is not yet ascertained. It is hoped Byrd will personally superintend tlut landing and the party will then motor to Paris alter a reception at Caen. Another account says Byrd and - Neville were cheerful and inquired ** their whereabouts when found. They said they had had a terrible night and halt the time had not the slightest idea of their whereabouts. A cost Balehen who is also at the lighthouse said they worb over Paris at two in th morning but after that were utterlv lost.

'I he villagers of Versunnir heard a plane but did not investigate. The aviators superintended the safety of their machine before they consented to cat and sleep. 1 Byrd cleared lip conflicting accounts of how they escaped by saying be attempted to land on a sandy coast but the wheels collapsed in the sand and therefore be skimmed out to sea, and then getting out the collapsible boat made for the shore. LONDON, July 1. Six aeroplanes chartered by pressmen and photographers left for Lo Bom-get immediately the Versunnir message was received. An unofficial report from Cherbourg states the aeroplane is still in the sea but safe. LONDON, July 1. Byrd and his companions used a rubber canoe to reach the shore after, leaving the plane. They woke the lighthouse keeper who collected sailors and they then salvaged the aeroplane .

X.Z. AIR FORCE. PROVISION FOR SEAPLANES SUGGESTED. AYE] JJXGTOX, June 30. The question of the adequacy of tho air defences of New Zealand was raised by the Navy League deputation which waited on the Prime Alinister and the Alinister for Defence to-day. it was asked whether the cruisers or other vessels would he equipped with seaplanes and catapults to enable them to take off, and whether the time had arrived when there should he ample and suitable complementary seaplane defences. In their replies the Ministers stated that they were watching all the latest developments abroad. The Prime LAlinister (Air Coates) asnred the deputation that the Government- was well acquainted with the position in regard to aeroplane developments. It had at its disposal not only the advice of airmen in New Zealand, but it was also in touch with the authorities at Home. Later oil. no doubt, the Government would he able to indicate what it intended to propose in regard to the Air Forqe progrran.ine. A lot of preliminarywork had been done in securing and preparing sites and generally making provision for the future. It was true that the machines had not yet been acquired.

The Alinister for Defence (the Hon. Air Rolleston) said that the present cruisers in New Zealand waters could be fitted quite easily for aeroplanes, but as those machines were only emerging from the experimental stage it was considered advisable to wait a little longer before taking any action in the .direction suggested. It was hoped to extend the naval reserves this year, establishing branches at AVellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, and other main ports.