AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1928, Page 6

AVIATION

AN EPIC FLIGHT

CENTRAL AFRICA TO ENGLAND

(United Press Association—By Electric

T elegr aph—Copy r i gh t)

LONDON. October 17

A race to bring the first picture of the Prince of Wales’ visit to Nairobi to London was won by a King’s Cup winner, Captain W. L. Hope, who accomplished a perilous journey of six thousand miles in ten days in a Gypsy .Moth aeroplane. He was unconscious for two days with sunstroke at Bara, where it was 122 degrees in the shade, but he pushed on in a dazed condition over flooded country, where an engine failure would have meant instant death. A dust storm forced him to fly low over the dread Neur district. Hostile tribes endeavoured to spear the passing aeroplane. He burned out his exhaust valve, which he replaced in a desert workshop. Hs arrived at Alexendria exhausted, after a night flight against head winds. Then lie recovered at Brindisi, to take the air. He encountered rain and gales, and nearing Paris he ran into a fog, and collided with a huge bird, which smashed the propeller and damaged the wing. He then requisitioned another aeroplane and alighted at Croydon days aluc.d of his rivals.

BALLOON BREAKS LOOSE. PARIS, Oct. 18

Containing a captain and sub-lie.ut. drinkless, food loss and pc •achuteless, a mil’tary observation be’lenn broke loose at v cvors ami disappeared at a "reat beight-. Tin— are the gravest fears for the occupants’ safety.

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