AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1931, Page 5

AVIATION

SMITH HELD UP AGAIN. • (United Press Association—By -Electric Telegraph —Copyright.) LONDON, December 15. Kingsford Smith is again held up at Lyons owing to bad weather. ANOTHER SHORT HOP. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m) PARIS, llijccember 15. Kingsford Smith left Lyons at 11.8 o’clock this .morning, and landed at Le Toquet. Owing to bad weather he is not proceeding to Croydon to-day. DUTCH ’PLANE TRAGEDY. /SINGAPORE, '’December 15. Colonel Brinsmead’s condition is unchanged- A Dutch 'Government representative and chief engineer of the Java Air Line have arrvied at Bangkok to make enquiries. FOG INTERRUPTS SERVICES. SMITHY, THE “FLYING SANTA CLAUS.” LONDON, December 12. Fog covered huge areas in Europe to-day. A big Air Force monoplane, returning from Egypt alter tv test flight in preparation for the recordbreaking attempt to Capetown, was forced down in an Essex field, mud clogging the wheels so that the plane turned over ou to its nose, and damaged the propellor. Flights, generally, have been "interrupted. A giant French passenger plane landed at Croydon only with great difficulty, and* with assistance of fog-piercing rockets to indicate the wlmroubouts of the drome. i

Though it was pitch dark at 4 o’clock, many officials and otliurs awaited Kingsford Smith, nicknamed the “Flying Santa Claus,” 1 for some hours, but he “found overmuch soot : n + l 'e chimney,” and had to stop at Le Touquet.

rvirvthing is ready for a quick overhaul of his machine for the return flight.