AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1927, Page 2

AVIATION.

(Australian Press Association & Sun. OCEAN FLIERS. ST. JOHN’S (Newfoundland), Aug 27. William Brock (pilot), accompanied by Edward Sclilee, a Detroit business man, hopped off at 5.14 this (Saturday) morning in tlie monoplane Pride of Detroit, for a 2350 miles flight to Croydon, ail the first leg of an attempt to establish a new time record for a round the world flight. They hope to accomplish the world journey in 28 days, or less. Their {machine is a Stinson monoplane, and their route is via the Continent 'of Europe. India, Tokio, Honolulu and San Francisco. They left New York on Wednesday, reaching Old Orchard, in Maine, next day, and arriving here yesterday. All preparations have boon made, including oil and petrol supplies, spare parts, etc., at various stations en route. ATLANTIC FLIERS. LONDON. Aug. 27. Hamilton and AlineHin arrived at Upavon Aerodrome, and everything was ready hut the weather for a start on their lion-slop flight to Ottawa. There is considerable discussion as to whether Princess Lnwenstein AVertlieiin will accompany the aviators. Hamilton says: “ff the Princess decides to fly with us. nothing can stop lier. She has partly financed our scheme, thereby making it possible, ami (she has the right to accompany us if she desires to do so. though so far she has not approached us directly. As to whether sites will he a passenger when wo take off at seven o’clock on Sunday, providing the weather holds, T do not know.” The Princess has had considerable living experience, extending hack to pre-war days. Incidentally, the French and German Atlantic competitors, also Levine, are still awaiting hotter weatlmr. LONDON, Aug. 27. Courtney has failed three limes to take off in his flying boat. REDFERN AITSSTNG. OTTAWA, Aug. 26. . Anxiety prevails to-night, thirty hours after the departure of Red lorn on his (flight to Rio do Janiero. No direct word lias yet been received from him. An unconfirmed wireless report stated he had been sighted three hundred miles east of the Bahamas. Naval officials express concern as he sliould have been sighted over British or Dutch Guiana, by now. and is scheduled to arrive at Rio do Janiero to-morrow. LATER. Fifty-seven hours after his departure for Brazil, with no word heard, it is now believed Redfern has been blown, off his course, and forced down on the northern coast of South America. or some of the islands near Trinidad. His petrol supply of 518 gallons could only last approximately fifty-two hours in flight. 'lt is believed the machine is capable of floating a considerable time ii loreed down in open water. It also carries a rubber raft, iand a ten-davs’ food supply.

THE HONOLULU TRAGEDIES. WASHINGTON. Aug. 27

With all hope practically abandoned of finding the lost Dole fliers, the last detachment of naval vessels engaged in searching lias been ordered to leave Honolulu for San Diego on August 00. but a search in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands will continue with submarines.

Meantime nlans for memorial services await the relatives' approval. Tt is proposed that such services be Held seven hundred miles out at sea from San Francisco, at approximately tho spot where Erwin was last heard from. The suggested date is September ]Gth, which is one month after the Golden Eagle and Miss Doran took off. Flowers will be cast into the water over an area of several square miles, and the liner Maui will he halted while services are conducted. AIR HAPPENING. BLENHEIM, August 27. Within an hour of Findlay’s crash advice was received from Christchurch that Captain Buckley was leaving in a Bristol fighter for Blenheim. Here Findlay will take over the Bristol and continue the flight to Auckland via ITawera, Buckley taking charge of the wrecked machine. It is expected Auckland will bo reached this afternoon. JOURNEY COMPLETED. HAWERA, Aug. The Bristol Fighter defence aeroplane, with Captain J. L. Findlay and Sergeant Simpson, landed safely on tho ITawera Racecourse shortly after four o’clock this afternoon, after a two hour trip from Blenheim. Owing to the lateness of arrival, the journey north to Auckland was abandoned for the day. It is proposed to continue the last stage on Sunday morning, subject to a suitable weather

report. Captain Findlay states that it is intended to repair the wrecked D.H. 50 at Blenheim. The equipment is being sent next Monday. The machine will be flown back when repaired. AUCKLAND, Aug. 28. . The flight from Christchurch to Auckland by Captain J. L. Findlay, of the Wigrani Aerodrome (Christchurch), was completed to-day. The distance covered is approximately 600 miles. Captain Findlay and his mechanic left Christchurch at G. 50 on Saturday morning in a D.H. machine, and shortly after 8 -.i.ni. the airman were over Blenheim. A perfect landing was effected. but Hlie soil proved soft and the wheels of the areoplane sank into the ground, the machine toppling over. The propeller was splintered and the radiator burst, and other damage done Captaiin Findlay and the mechanic were uninjured. Arrangements were made to continue the flight in a Bristol machine, and in this Captain Findlay and the mechanic resumed the flight from -Blenheim at 2.30 yesterday afternoon, Hawera was reached at 4 p.m., and here the airmen remained for the night. The flight was resumed from Hawera. at 10.50 this morning,, and just two hours later the aeroplane landed at the appointed place at Mangere, eight miles from Auckland. Except for the accident at Blenheim, the flight was uneventful, and was made in fine weather.