AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1928, Page 3

AVIATION.

(United Service.)

NEW YORK, May 30

Ivingsford Smith and three companions took off on a short trial flight over San Francisco Bay, carrying a load of half, the plane’s total petrol capacity. UNVERIFIED- RUMOUR. Australian Press Assn.—United Service (Tteceivod this day at 31.0 a m.) SEATTLE, May 30. A wireless message from an Alaskan Wireless station this afternoon said the Citta di Milano was heard sending private messages to Rome, signed Nobile. The Alaskan station reported flic messages indicated the Italia had been located. SEATTLE, May 30. Disregard that Nobile is located. It is not verified.

NO NEWS. KINGS BAY, May 30. The Citta Di Milano returned at midnight. It received no message from the north and it was snowing and very cold.

WIRELESS MESSAGES

GISBORNE, May 31

The following radio messages were recorded by Ivan O’Mearo from New York “Times” broadcast: “Commander Byrd’s ship Samson left Pendleton, England, on 7th May, taking the great circle course for New York. Since sailing nothing further has been heard. The Samson is a combination of sail and steam, being bnrquentine rigged with three masts and stack between tho centre and after mast, an over-all length of 161 feet, with 27 feet beam. Urgently request, anyone that has sighted or been in touch by radio to call letters W.1t.0. Please radio immediately Byrd Antarctic expedition. New York, giving date sighted and worked and location. A message from Oslo, Norway, states large aeroplanes accompanied by steamships equipped for Arctic work arc the means proposed by the Norwegian Government for searching northern wastes for traces of the lost dirigible Italia, and a personnel of eighteen. While every radio in Norway and Russia, and particularly Siberia, has strained every attention to catch some radio word from the Italia, and nothing lias been heard. All sorts of rumours are in Oslo of the fate of the airship, but all lacked confirmation. Cesare Sabelli, the Italian flier, who is preparing in New York for a New York-Rome flight announced he would hop off at noon on May 29th for tho Arctic to aid in the search for the Italia unless word of its safety was received before then. He plans to fly direct to Spokane, and thence to Point Barrow, Alaska, and from there across tho Pole to the vicinity in which lm might expect to find the Italia.

PRINCE AS AIRMAN. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. Thousands crowded round the Prince of Wales aeroplane at Norwich, whence he flew from London, to open a. new pleasure ground. The Prince, in full Hying kit, waved from the cock-pit as lie was rising.

Captain Rico (Chairman of tho Norwich Aero Club) asked the Prince il he intended to take up flying.

The Prince replied: “I prefer riding and the old hunt. I may take up flying later.” In the same machine on Sunday the Prince flew from Scarborough to Sandringham in order to be in time to dine with the King and Queen.

READY FOll FLY. * VANCOUVER, Alay 30. A message from Oakland states Kings ford Smith announced he would take" a short test flight during the afternoon, after which he would say definitely whether he would start tomorrow morning on his flight to Honolulu. The plane has keen pronounced in perfect condition by experts, and the airmen are all very confident of success. A few imperfections in the engine that were revealed during the endurance flight attempts last autumn are being completely eliminated. 'Hie weather forecasts indicate good Hying conditions along the Pacific Coast on Thursday. Fair weather is predicted for a distance of a thousand miles at ' sea with fresh northerly winds and some cloudiness, thence to Honolulu.