AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1928, Page 2

AVIATION.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association. FR ENCII Al AX ’ S EX PE It IE X C ES. BEIRUT, Doc. 31. Colonel Antoinat, who started on a flight to India on December 19, gives thrilling details of his experiences. “ Directly we left Ronio we were blown

far out of our course over the Mediterrauean. The cold was so terrible that the pilot fainted and another replaced him. For hours we battled with the storm and fog, trying to reach Athens, when we were able to land in Adalia,

" The petrol tanks were almost dry where the Turks arrested us on a charge that we had flown over Smyrna. \Ye started again in the teeth of a raging storm, and were tossed to and fro as the aeroplane lurched about. “ One of the left stays snapped, and the machine tilted sideways and plunged towards the waves. When we were a few feet above the water the aeroplane' straightened, and we were just able to land on the shore near Alcrsina in Asia Alinor. A large mob of armed peasants cursed and beat us and refused us food and water. Ultimately the French Consul came to the rescue, not a moment too soon, as the peasants were just starting to burn the aeroplane. " The crew recommenced the journey cm Christmas morning, despite the exhaustion from which they were sullen ng. Wc reached Alexaudretta. hut it. is little short of a miracle that the aeroplane survived the buffeting of the storm.”

Colonel Antoinat and his crew look oil' from Le Rourget for llandia (India'. They Imped to accomplish the journey in live days, travelling via Rome, Athens, Aleppo. Basra. Karachi and Calcutta.

TOUR OL’ FLYING BOATS. COLOMBO, Dec. 31. The four Royal Air Force flying boats which are making a long tour round India and to Australia, arrived here. NAVAL INNOVATION. ’PLANES IN SUBMARINES.. LONDON, Dee. 31. The first news of British submarines carrying aircraft appears in a routine announcement in the “ London Gazette,” referring to allowances to qualified fleet air arm pilots and naval observer officers appointed to such submarines. The “ Daily Express ” points out that the United States Navy has been experimenting with aeroplanes with folding wings which can he packed in cylinders in submarines. LONDON, Jan. 1.

It appears that the news of submarines carrying aeroplanes leaked out by mistake, through a red tape regulation concerning the publication of rates of naval pay. The Admiralty had been taking extraordinary pains to keep the secret, and naturally refuses further information. Tho only comment ill official circles is that contained in the "London Gazette,” which says that the disclosure is most unfortunate and ill-timed.

SAFE LANDING .MADE. CAIRO. Dec. 31. The Imperial Ariways liner, travelling from Bagdad to Cairo, which was missing since Thursday, made a safe landing. The search party found it sixty miles from Rutba. The passengers, including a woman, were all taken to Bagdad by a relief