AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1928, Page 2

AVIATION.

NATIONAL AIR CHAMPIONS. (Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Jan. 16. The International Union of Aviators awarded the title of national air champion to Costes Leheix (France), Webster (Britain). Wouters (Air Line Pilot, Belgium), and Eoppou (Holland). U.S. AIRCRAFT. WASHINGTON, Jan. 17. Admiral Hughes, Chief of Naval Operations, informed the House Naval Affairs Committee that the five new aircraft carriers asked for in the five year programme, will bring the United States to its limit of 135.000 tons for this class of ship under the Washington Treaty, but an unlimited number of airplane carriers under 1.0.000 tons each, can he built- without violating the Treaty. The contemplated aircraft carriers would carry seventy-six planes each. Representative Britton asked the State Department for an interpretation of the exact limitation on aircraft carriers in the Washington Treaty. Senator Hughes said that cruisers must serve to protect the foreign trade routes of the T nited States. Representative McClintock asked whether it was not more important to have airplanes than cruisers and battlesh it) s. Representative Britton quoted the ‘‘Manchester Guardian” to the effect that the projected naval programme was “a paper programme, and intimated Hie necessity of fixing a definite time limit, within which the shipis would he built. The Assistant Secretary ol the Navy. Mr Warner, announced that the navy has on order 380 'planes, 10 () bombers, ISO observation, and 120 lighting’ planes. All these were of the most modern design, and will be completed within nine months. “This number alone, ’ said 111' Warner “is larger than any iorce known to be in existence in any otliei country.” *

SMITH’S ENDURANCE FLIGHT

(Received this day at 9.30 a.m). SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18

Smith’s plane came through the greatest hazard, namely in the early liours of the morning, when the load was heavy, with motors still 1 auctioning perfectly and after twenty-four I,ours they were still faultless and were throttled down at the lowest possible speed. As the morning wore on, the fliers sent a message at seven as follows :—“Good morning. Wc are flying in the neighbourhood of Mills Held. The motors are making 1400 revolutions per minute. It is very cold. Outside curtains are broken, letting the wind sweep in on us.” Both airmen were warmly clad. The next message at 9.30, said: “ Altitude 600 feet, speed 57 miles per hour, revolutions 1.390. Everything 0.K.”