AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1928, Page 2

AVIATION

A FLY STARTED.

Australian IVess Assn.—United Service NEW YORK, May 2. A message from Santa Monica (California) states Kingsford Smith hopped off this afternoon in the “Southern Cross” for San Francisco, on the first leg of his projected flight to Australia. ROCK FT PROPKLLOR.. , A (AIRMAN TEST. LONDON. May 2. “The Times’s” .Berlin correspondent says: A serious attempt to shoot an aeroplane, with a human 'being aboard, inlo the air, will shortly he made at llerlin. A contract has been made for the application of the Opel Rocket system (cabled on April 12) to aircraft. The occupant of the aeroplane will be Herr Raah, a pilot of long experience, who once astonished Jierlin by landing in the Cuter Den Linden. The aeroplane to be used is one of the Raah Katzenstein Grnsmulckc Company’s light plane. It weighs five cwt. Two batteries of rockets will replace the engine, one on either side of the tusikige. between the plane’s cross bracking. The structure lias been specially strengthened to resist the recoil and to withstand the hi gh speed expected. The pilot's part will he to bring the. aeroplane to earth by a gliding flight after the rockets have burned out.

If the experiments nro successful, attempts will Ik* made to progressively increase the heights attained by the use of more powerful rockets. The pilots will be provided with oxygen apparatus and parachutes. Tlio Opel Rocket Company believes that it is technically possible to propel an aeroplane by the l-oeket method, to immense heights, well beyond the earth’s atmosphere'; It is clear that a single successful rocket flight will open up an entirely new field in aeronautical research, and it might effort, in important ways, the whole future of aviation. The rocket car which carried out most successful tests recently will shortly he tried out near Berlin in a world’s speed record effort.

TRANS-PACIFIC FLIGHT. SAN FRANCISCO. May 3. Kingsford Smith, in the plane “Southern Cross,” is here ironi Santa .Monica. 11 <* is said to he on his way to A list.! alia, doing the journey within thirty days.

CAPTAIN WILKINS. OSLO, May 3. Captain Wilkins is spending his time while waiting for a ship on writing a hook entitled “My Polar Flights.” He stales he does not think it impossible to lire in flic Arctic regions near ilm Pole. He is strongly of the opinion that the future air mules will closely follow bis. because of tlio. excellent landing .bases 1 in Alaska. NEW YORK. May 2. The “New York Times’,s” Svalbard •correspondent interviewed Cajotain Wilkins, who hopes to reach New York on July Ist. He is making plans to lly from Ross Sea lo Graham's Land, not rivalling Commander Byrd’s r (forts to reach ilie South Pole, but they may have their bases near each oilier Captain Wilkins will fly from tin* west ami will follow the coast of Graham’s Land, while Commander Byrd Hies inland and south. Captain Wilkins added that Antarctic living presents difficulties am! problems widely dilferent from those of the Arctic, but the two summers ho spent in the liciglilioiuhod of Graham’s Land nave given him some idea of the requirements. He expressed conlid, lice in Byrd's success in his Antarctic venture.

lie said that bis delay may give Colonel Nobile serious trouble since Arctic exploration.: are extremely diflieolt in the summer, although it is possible to operate aircraft above the Arctic. lie expressed bis confidence in Colonel Nobile's ability.

I TAM AN A 111-SHIP SAILS. IiDNIXIN. May 3. Colonel Nobile and the airship “Italia" left Stolp at 3.26 this morning for the Island of Spitzborge-n. eu route for the' North Pole.