AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1927, Page 2

AVIATION.

(Australian Press Association & Sun.

MISSING ST. RAPHAEL.

LONDON, Sept. 2. British air experts Hold out no hope for the St. Raphael. A dramatic announcement has been issued L>y the Air Ministry at midnight to the effect that it has received amessage from the steamer Joliiah Maccy to the effect that an aeroplane passed tho vessel overhead at a point half way across the Atlantic ill a direct line with the North of Scotland. Tho Josialt Macey’s report was the first nesw of any kind regarding the St. Raphael for 50 hours. The general opinion is that the news renders the position more hopeless. Experts here endorse the Canadian belief that the plane lias not crossed Newfoundland. They consider the plane’s chance of being picked up by a steamer without wireless as being very remote. Each hour is making this possibility more remote. Public opinion here is now turning against the hazardous cast to west attempts, which are infinitely more difficult that the west to east ones.

Commoner Captain Cairo Jones, late advisory officer to the United States Air Service, points out the St. Raphael’s fate may well have proved that the Atlantic winds two thousand feet up are relatively stronger than at the sea level, and that they might he confined to a zone that is wholly unobserved by ships. NEW YORK, Sept. 2, Giles has telegraphed from Detroit to Airs Leslie Hamilton, wife of the leader of tho St. Raphael, offering to aid in searching for the St. Raphael Ho said he would proceed immediately to St. John, Newfoundi'and, and would make a flight extending for one thousand miles over the Atlantic, if she accepted t lie offer.

Giles served with Hamilton during the war.

CANADIANS’ PROPOSAL. NEW YORK, Sept. 2. Tlie “New York Times” Ottawa correspondent learns, on good authority, that legislation will probably ho introduced into the Dominion Parliament to discourage “stunt flights” in Canada; on the grounds that they have harmed rather ihaii helped, aviators. An effort will he made to give tlie Air Board greater powers to restrict Canadian licensed aeroplanes fro undertaking long distance flights for which the preparations are not complete while doing, everything possible to encourage commercial aviation.

A HALT CALLED

LONDON, Sept. 3. There is now an intense feeling spreading throughout Germany against the use of land air machines for ocean flights. This follows the result of the St. Raphael flight. Professor Junkers has decided to abandon the contemplated Junkers plane attempted to fly to America,

Professor Junkers says: “Another attempt, in tiie interests of aeronautical research alone, appears to me to he unjustifiable; but 1 will leave tiie decision of the pilots.

In the same connection, the London Daily Telegraph expert says: So heavy is the price already paid that it is reasonable to question the wisdom of attempts over long distances in which the ocean provides an added element of risk, and does not afford any compensating advantages, LONDON. September '!>

To-day (Thursday) Le'Chie stated lie will definitely fly to America on Saturday if the weather is favourable.

LONDON, September 2

Levine is still determined to venture across the Atlantic; After a conference with Marconis the latest type of aircraft wireless transmitter lias been fitted to bis machine this work occupying ail night. Mareonis are sending special instructions to the various ■ships’ wireless men at present on tiie Ati'antic, and Levine’s new set will be tried out, to-morrow.

With bis machine half loaded with petrol, Levine said:—“l am going to Crankwell to-night. Then I shall be entirely in tlie hands of the weather. You can take it from me, we are flying to America.

COURTNEY GIVES UP. LONDON, September 3. The airman Courteny, left Plymouth in his Niipier-Whale plane for America at 0.30. o’clock this (Saturday) morning in fins weather. The utmost secrecy was observed. Not more than halt a dozen people; ill addition to those directly concerned, saw the Napier-'Wliai'e machine take off Courtney is accompanied by Navigator Downin' and Mechanic Little, and also by an unnamed Canadian millionaire. The visibility at tho start was ban hut there was no breeze, and the sea was calm. Reports from the English Channel stated that the weather is there clearer.

On his first and second attempts to rise Courtney failed. Then the machine taxied into Plymouth Sound, aim > took off in a mist it being cheered by Courtney’s wife, and by the mechanics and crow of an R.A.F. pinnace, the return of which was the only sign to the watchers on the shore that the flight had Started, This early departure was a inosi surprising one, as it was announced last night that’Courtney intended to await the seven o’clock weather report. The identity of the “mystery passenger” is causing speculation. Courtney proposes to stop at the Azores and at St. Johns (Newfoundland) for refueling, white en route to New York. Courtney started from practically the same spot on which the American seaplane “N.C. 4" landed after crossing the Atlantic by stages in lfj]9. Latef. It is understood the mystery passonegr is Air E. IL ITosmer, the son of Mr Charles Ilosnier, the Canadian millionaire (iiiiiiicicr, He is asssociated with his father’s business, and ir, aged between forty and fifty, lie has been on a holiday in England. Though be was staying at the same hotel as Courtney in Plymouth. Mr Hosmer did not allow his identity to he revealed, even to the officials at the seapl’anc station.

LONDON. September 3. La ter news shows Courtney has wirelessed to a passing vessel that he has given up his flight to America owing to meeting head winds, and stated he was making for Corunna (Spain). LONDON, September 3. A French steamer reports that an aeroplane which is believed to have been Courtney’s was sighted at 7.26. this (Saturday) morning flying westward at a height of sixteen hundred feet, ninety miles northwest of Brest. LONDON, September 3. Courtney pffer many nervous attempts to start, left Calsliot and headed for Plymouth. His machine rose like a bird. Mrs Courtney also went to Plymouth, taking food supplies. The Canadian millionaire is reported to have paid £1,500 for his passage.

“ROYAL WINDSOR” STARTS. OTTAWA, September 3. Royal Windsor has hopped off from St. Johns, in Quebec. She started at 7.35. this (Saturday) morning.

NEW YORK, September 8. A message from Portland, in Maine, states the “Royal 1 Windsor” has been forced to land owing to unfavourable weather. “PRIDE OF DETROIT”. BAGHDAD, September 2. Brock and Sclilee have arrived here in the Pride of Detroit. BAGHDAD, September 3. The -Pride of Detroit” plane with Brock and Sclilee, has left Baghdad for Bunderabhas. NORTH ISLAND FLIGHT. AUCKLAND, September 3. Group Captain Fellowes and Captain Findlay left Alangere at 10.10 this morning on a flight to Hawera and Wellington, where they expect to arrive this afternoon. AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON. HAWERA, September 4. Flying the Bristol fighter aeroplane Captain Findlay landed bore at noon yesterday having taken 1 hour an 50 minutes to cover the 200 miles journey from Auckland. He was accompanied hy the Imperial Airship Mission. . Mild hazy conditions were experienced. Tlie journey to Trent ham was resumed at 1.22 p.m. after tho tanks were replenished with 24 gallons of spirit.' v t

SERIES OF TEST FLIGHTS. BLENHEIM. September 4. Repairs to the “D.H. 50” aero- t plane which was badly damaged on Saturday last in landing at Blenheim Aerodrome, have been proceeding all the week, and the machine is now practically ready to take to the i*ir again.

Captain Buckley, who had returned to Christchurch during the week, arrived. via Wellington by this morning’s ferry steamer, and he will' possibly take up tlie machine on the first of a series of short test flights this afternoon.

ENGLISH PARACHUTE TRAGEDY. MAN HANGING FROM PLANE; LONDON, September 4. Flight Lieut Hodsmi gave evidence at the inquest on Lothian (whose tragedy was cabled on August. 30) when ho was killed in landing while hanging by the parachute belt Lieut Hudson said he went up to test the instruments, including a low alimeter. Lothian was nervous before the flight, shivering fill over, but he recovered when fly-iiig. lie was similary nervous on the former three flights on the last of which lie asked to be “stunted” to see what it was like.

Witness continued;—We were flying at four hundred feet. When the tali sank the controls were difficult to move 1 saw Lothian hanging from the para- < Lute strings. 1 twice stalled ai'nlofft into a pin in ilio liopfe that Lotlfiari would he able to climb up the rope. This was very risky because, if a spin developed there was no room to use my own parachute. I tried flying faster in order to tighten the strings and to give Lothian a chance to climb the tail, but I was unable to assist him owing to the stiffness of the controls, so determined to land and I descended almost vertically switching off the engine. The plane only ran ten yards. I believe that Lothian fell but while attempting to reach tlifc pant-* chute, which fell ovei'board.

A verdict of accidental’ death was returned tlie jury complimenting Hodgson upon liis skill.