AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1928, Page 2

AVIATION

Australian Press Assn.—United Service

FRENCH AIRMEN’S ESCAPE. PARIS, Aug. 26. Captains Condouret and Malloux and Lieut. Maillunesle started at six o’clock this (Saturday) morning from Le Bourget in an attempt to fly the Atlantic Ocean in the aeroplane “Le France.” The airmen met with a series of disasters, however, for their heavily loaded machine had a great difficulty in rising, and she then narrowly escaped the trees bordering the aerodrome. The plane next flew straight for a lino of telegraph wires, hut it just missed them, and it also barely cleared some electric power cables. Then the pilot almost collided with a house in the village of Gonesse, the undercarriage scraping the roof. The pilots then released their reserve petrol, thus enabling tlx machine to rise clear. The plane circled for seven minutes and then it safely descended to the aerodrome. The fliers emerged with their faces as white as sheets and they were dripping with perspiration. SOUTHERN CROSS. RETURN JOURNEY STARTED. PERTH, Aug. 26. The aeroplane Southern Cross is expected to leave Tamming. in the wheat belt, at five o’clock this (Sunday) afternoon for Adelaide. Besides the crew of four, a passenger, Mr Broadhurst will make the trip.

QUEENSLAND AERTAL DERBY BRISBANE, Aug. 26

The Queensland Aerial Derby, of forty-two miles, in which there were thirteen starters, was won by Captain Brain, in a moth aeroplane, the time being twenty-six _ minutes, twentythree seconds.