AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1928, Page 3

AVIATION

FRENCH LINER’S AEROPLANE. Australian Press Assn. —United Service PARIS, August 23. The IHe Do France saved two days on the eastward trans-Atlantic mail service by means of an aeroplane she carried. This plane shot into the air at a speed of sixty miles an hour when 150 miles west of the Seilly Islands. Despite bad weather, the scheme worked excellently, the plane lofilliug at Cherbourg, whence it proceeded to Paris. An extra charge of twenty pence per letter is made. The scheme will be applied to other French liners.

TASMAN AIR SERVICE. SYDNEY, Aug. 24. A plan is on foot for the establishment of a passenger and mail air service between Australia and New Zealand, according to Mr _ Brundahl, representing the Dornier Wahl Flying Boat Company, who has sent a letter to .Ur Brinsmead, Director of Civil Aviation, seeking his opinion in legat'd to the possibility of securing a mail subsidy for a company starting such a service.

The planes would be all metal fl>ing boats, equipped with four, six or more British engines. All of the licensed engineers and crew would ho British. The enpfital would Wo f> quairtcr of a million sterling, and would be British and ami New Zealand capital, with probably some support from the Dornier Mali! Company, the proportion of which would be subject to legislation. Three rafts at least would be used •each beiing equipped with wireless direction finders. The load would be fifteen passengers, or the equivalent in mails and freights.

SOUTHERN CROSS. PERTH, Aug. 24. Rain last night soaked the Oaklnnds Aerodrome, and as a result K.ingsfordSnritli is doubtful if they will be able to start on the eastward flight to-mor-row. FLIERS LOCATED. NEW YORK, Aug. 23. A Chicago Amateur Radio Station reported early on Friday morning that it was in communication with the missing plane “Greater Rockford,” which gave its position as fifty miles off Newfoundland. NEW YORK, Aug. 24.

'rile Radio message received from the “Greater Rockford” plane stated: “Failure of the oil feed forced the plane down on Sunday. Food supply running low.” The operator, Harris, who received the message is confident that it is a bona fide message, A message from Toledo, Ohio, states that Joseph Williams, an amateur radio operator, declared that he had been in direct communication with the Greater Rockford flyers for ten minutes. They said that they were stranded on a small island north of Newfoundland, and they needed assistance badly.

MESSAGES DOUBTED. (Received this clay at 10.15 a.m.} NEW YORK, August 24. Messages signed with the call letters of the ’plane Greater Rockford, the authenticity of which are doubted, were received early to-day by amateur operators in Brooklyn. Chicago. New York, and elsewhere. The messages asked for immediate help and said the ’plane is on an island fifty to a hundred miles north of Newfoundland, where no such island is located. Experts state the plane was unable to send such messages with the available instruments. Later a message was received here similarly signed, which was weak and halting and asked for aid. Apparently it had been senfe with a B battery. FURTHER RADIO MESSAGE. NEW YORK. Aug. 24. The Brooklyn amateur radio operaor reported that at noon to-day ho communicated with a station reporting itself as the missing Rockford monoplane, .confirming the communication intercepted at Chicago. To-dav’s message reported: “On island, 50 miles north of Newfoundland. Food supply low, send help.”