AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1927, Page 2

AVIATION.

(Australian it N.Z. Cable Association.)

PORTUGAT.’S WELCOAIE. LISBON, Oct. 20.

A group of students, emulating Sir Walter Raleigh, spread their cloaks on the ground for Miss Elder, the American airwoman, to walk over, on her arrival from the Azores, after her rescue l'oni her disabled aeroplane, .Miss America. A fleet of motor boats, conveying leading officials, met the liner Lima, with Aliss Elder aboard, and aviators circled overhead, while great crowds waited on the shore to welcome Aliss Elder anil Captain Haldeman. When the latter landed the crowds broke the police lines and Aliss Elder and Captain Haldeman reached their motor only with difficulty. Subsequently they called on tho President of Portugal and received his congratulations.

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS. LONDON, Oct, 25. Cross-Channel flying is so much a part of everyday travel that the Imperial' Airways have introduced second class planes, together with a revision of fares. First class to Paris is ninety-five shillings, and second class seventy-five. It is [minted out that second class is identical with iirst in speed and safety, the difference being that the machines leave London at eight in the morning, and do not carry a. waiter, and the seating is less elegantly upholstered.

FREXCH CHALLENGE. LONDON. Oct. 25. The appearance of a new fleet of aeroplanes of the French Air Union are responsible for the Imperial Airways’ cut in the fares to Paris. The newcomers include machines width are a quarter of an hour faster than tho British. Lastly, France ordered an all-metal aeroplane to he placed on the route. The Morning Post says that the Imperial Airways is also severely challenged oil Continental routes by Frame and Germany increasing their influence throughout Europe; and in North Africa, Germany is operating to England, Holland, France, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria anil Switzerland. The French Air Union, I‘urtliermoro. is ilrnstii-ally cutting freights, which at present are a most profitable source of revenue. Hence the price war will soon reach a more acute stage. TRANS-ATLANTIC AIR MAILS. LONDON, Oct. 25. Charles Lawrence, designer of the Wright whirlwind trans-Atlantic plane, arrived from America. He says: It will be a decade before trans-Atlantic air mails arc in operation. Fifteen years Will Hec New York to Paris air liners, with a wing span of two hundred feet, in which everything, including engines, will he housed ill tho wings. These craft will carry 150 passengers and have conveniences equal to the biggest and best of present clay steamers.