AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1928, Page 3

AVIATION

: (United Pdess Association';—-By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright,; , further. A,cc()(’^;r, r " •’• (Received 'this day at 6 a.in.) NEW YOU K. April 21. We are nine well rested and are A enjoying comforts of the mess at Green Harbour radio station and.the .splen- ;. di'd liaspitnli'ty of Norwegian officials. .It is possible we may not lie able to leave until after the middle of May. It would be impossible to take off in a. machine lilted with wheels from .snow and ice. and it would be a hazardous attempting a, landijrg on any but snow covered country with the .skis we lmve, so wo must wait patiently for steamship transportation. Included herewith is Eilxon’ts account of the adventure: ‘-.lt occurred to me before starting that there were not many men with whom 1 would bo willing to start on .such a trip whore there was always a chance of a year’s walk back, but I had bad lx*fore a thorough demonstration of Wilkins’ ability on ice. as well as his accuracy

in Arctic navigation. Some of my impressions during the (light J may set down as follows:- -“When we ran into tl» first mass of cloud I began to wish it bad been my lot to lie a chicken farmer, not an aviator, hut it soon cleared, and the sunshine was reassuring. After the first thirteen h ours of r (light passed it was difficult to keep the engine warm, although wrapped in asbestos. The machine grew light when we bad only thirty gallons oT petrol left, and approaching the goal she leaped and bucked like a vicious horse, added to which fine snow and wind made everything invisible. My landing was lucky. It was only sis in the evening, and although we left Harrow the previous morning at seven we had lost an hour eleven times, f was reminded of Robinson Crusoe by our story at Headman's Maud, ft was, however, not warm here. You can imagine my consternation when T nearly left Wilkins behind on trying to leave. Our efforts to get a start would have been extremely ludicrous, had they not been so downright serious. We determined, if necessary since the plane could not start without him pushing, and ome si aided, if lie was unable to get in to drop him provisions and arms, while I (lew for help, hut fortunately this was not noeessnry. Our trip .successfully ended and we settled down to enjoy ibe comforts of Green Harbour, which to us .seemed ‘dike .a foretaste of Heaven.”

NOTH I.ICS COMMENT. MOW YORK. April 21. In an interview with the New York Times, Nobile, while unhesitatingly praising Wilkins' feat in the face of adverse weather conditions, expressed Limf-tclf guardedly regarding the scientific value of the enterprise. Nubile remarked on the fact that AVilkins’ failure to sight land was not positive proof that there was no large island or even continent between Alaska and Spit/.bergen. adding that the fliers may have failed i> notice land traversed, on account of the had vision.’’ 'I he Might from Barrow to Spet/.bergen -was a great feat, but n drip in the opjsisite direction was much more difficult, { know what I have to lace lint believe the scientific results will he entirely satisfactory. Airships can halt or cruise over a certain point for a long time, while a plane is una.ble to do this ami must continue its course at top speed.

NOTED AIRMAN'S DEATH. (Received this day at Jl.O a m.) OTTAWA. April 2). Floyd Bennett died at 10.30 tins morning at Quebec from pneumonia, contracted white Hying here from Detorit with repair parts for the Bremen at Greenly Island, lie was kepi alive for some hours with oxygen. Lindbergh’s trip was in vain because the serum from the Roekefller Institute lie carried was only effective for types of pneumonia less virulent than Bennett’s.

Commander Byrd was greatly affected at ilie* death of Bennett, for whom lie entertained the keenest personal affection and with whom he laid shared triumphs and hardships. Bennett's body is being sent to New York. OTTAWA. April 2M

Kloyd Bennett's wile, who is ill in the liosjiitiil where her husband died, is prostrated. She is suffering with Lonsilitis smd n general breakdown ns the result of the ordeal. Commandoi Byrd is making the I'mieral arrangements. 'l'lie city llatis are at hall mast, liyrd anonmieed later he agreed with the plans of the Navy Department al Washington lor the hurial at the Burlington National Cemetery on Friday. The body leaves on Thursday and will lie eseorted to the station with lull military honours. lie also announced the South Polar plane will he named Floyd Bennett as a memorial plane.