CROSSING ATLANTIC

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1929, Page 4

CROSSING ATLANTIC

FRENCHMAN' LEAVES AMERICA. MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. ANOTHER. FLYER FAILS. (United Press Association—By Electric' Telegraph—Copyright). (Received this dnv at 10 a.m.l NEW YORK, June 13. A report tfrom Old Orchard, Maine, states Armona Lotti (sponsor and copilot), Jean Assolant (pilot), and Rene Lefevre (navigator) in the giant ochre winged French monoplane, Yellow Bird, made a perfect take-off at-10.10 this morning on the long-deferred attempted flight to Paris, while eleven minutes later, the Americans Williams and Yancey, narrowly escaped serious injury when their plane Green flask ploughed into the sands and was greatly damaged. The Americans sped down tlie crescent-slinped beach in an attempted take-off on a projected 4740mile flight to Rome, hut had travelled only a third of a mile when the Gsf>9 pounds craft tore into the fidft sands and almost over-turned. The airmen, were uninjured, hut both wheels of the ’plane were torn off, the propellor smashed, wing broken, fabric torn, and th 6 engine l damaged, making it unlike- - ly that a further attempt will be made in it. ■ v Meanwhile, having overcome the weather obstacles which had ker>t them la.ndbound for three weeks tho Frenchmen were proceeding north east » ward towards Cape 'Sable with the expectation of reaching Paris in 30 hours. The French plane though totalling a weight of 3700 pounds made a beautiful take off with As«olnnt at the con- . trols, Lefere navigating and Loth . taxing charge of the radio. Within half an hour of their departure Lieut Leonard Melka of United States Coastguard, who'intended to escort both planes over the first hundred miles, returned to the beach and reported that YclVnv-Bird travelling at a high speed had out-distanced his amnhibean forcing him to abandon his plan to accompany them further. Melka declared the Frenchmen’s motor seemed to he functioning perfectly and the craft was making excellent time.