IN THE AIR

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1932, Page 5

IN THE AIR

FEARS FELT FOR RECORD AIRMEN. - (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) . ■ MOSCOW, July 7. Anxiety is felt for the safety of Griffin and Mat-tern who are overdue since early morning. ; i The aeroplane was sighted high up bn the Polish-Lithuan-ian frontier at 11.40 last night and it is feared that since they have been driven out of their course by heavy storms and torrential rains. GERMAN AIRMEN RECOVERING.’; SYDNEY, July, 7. A Wyndliam message states that the’ airman Bertram has now almost completely recovered, and is capable ■' of; dealing with a pile of’ cablegrams and telegrams from relatives and friends'in Germany and Australia, congratulating tiie pair cm their good fortune, and. wishing them a speedy recovery. Bertram treated a .reply to his German sweetheart as most urgent. :; Klausinann is showing a slight improvement. Dr, Webster thinks hewill be fit in two weeks,, but great care is necessary, 1 .

AFRICAN AIR SERVICE,

NEW BRITISH PLANES

RUGBY, July 6

Part of a fleet of eight huge monoplanes intended for the African routes of the Imperial Airways' are now undergoing, final tests at Coventry at the works of Armstrong,- Whitworth and Company. The whole fleet was completed within a few weeks. Each machine fully loaded will weigh eight and a-half tons, wjll have a wing span of ninety feet, will be powered .with four double Mongoose 340 horse-power air-cooled radial motors, and each is designed to meet the difficult flying'conditions characteristic of the African Airways. The aerodromes 'between Cairo and Capetown are situated more than 5000 feet above) sea level, and the new liners are designed to operate normally at a height of 9009 feet. Even with one of the four motors stopped, the craft will be among, the fastest civil aeroplanes yet built,,’,;,