AERIAL FLIGHT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 833, 30 April 1910, Page 3

AERIAL FLIGHT.

“DAILY MAIL” COMPETITION. WON BY A FRENCHMAN. London, April 27. Mr Paulhan, the French biplauist, started at 5.20 p.m. on his flight for the Daily Mail ,£IO,OOO prize (from London to Manchester with not more than two stops, distance 170 miles as the crow flies), A cheering crowd of three thousand persons witnessed the start.

He passed Watford at 54*S, his machine sailing steadily and fast through the air at an altitude of nine hundred feet. Leighton Buzzard was passed over at 6.20, the machine moving splendidly; at 6.27 Bletchley was left behind, at 6.35 Wolverton was underneath (the altitude of the biplane being 500 feet), and Roade was reached at 6.40, everything still going smoothly. The weather was favourable. At an altitude of 900 feet the aeronaut looked down at Rugby—the hour being 7.21 —and descended safely at Lichfield (near Birmingham) at 9.10 (? 8.10).

Mr White, who last week attempted to aeroplane from London to Manchester in twenty-four hours or under, started at 6.35 o’clock in a Farman biplane with a monoplane tail. His departure was witnessed by 20,000 people who cheered frantically. He passed Watford at 6.50, at a height of 200 feet, travelling fast and steadily with a brisk wind behind him. Leighton Buzzard was reached at 7.20, Bletchley at 7.37 (the biplane being higher and going faster and straighter than that of M. Paulhan), and Wolverton at 7.45. The aeronaut, at 7.55, alighted a mile south of Roade. Darkness suspended the flights.

A correction : White re-started from Roade at 2.50, passed Rugby at 3.30, and alighted at'Polesworth.

White descended in difficulties at Polesworth.

Paulhan passed Stafford at 4,40, and reached Manchester at 5.30. White had abandoned the idea of the flight, owing to a high, gusty wind, when he learned by telephone that Paulhan had stolen a march, and had started. White hastily, and without taking food, followed at the earliest possible moment. His daring on entering the competition thus handicapped was loudly cheered. Meanwhile, Paulhan ha I a lon,, lead, and White was unable to make as great progress before darkness set in.

Paulhan restarted at 4 a.m. London, April 28

Mr White left Roade in the darkness, and was guided by searchlights from motor cars. His motor got out of gear, and he was compelled to finally descend at Polesworth.

M. Paulham slept at Lichfield. Early in the mornmg he heard that Mr White was within 20 miles of the city. He feverishly turned his aeroplane and started at dawn, nine minutes past four. He soon ascended 400 feet, but head to the wind made slow progress. He reached Stanton Bridge at 4.55. Thereafter he sometimes flew at the rate of 60 miles an hour. Crewe was reached at 5.10 He passed over Manchester at a height of 500 feet at 5.32. He was greeted with wild cheering by a huge crowd. He alighted after a graceful curve in the centre of the selected field. His average speed was 47 miles and hour.

M. Paulham’s first words on alighting were, “lam very cold, but very happy.”

Paulham states the wind continually forced his aeroplane off the track of the railway line. Sometimes he rose and fell 30 feet in the varying currents. The spectators who were waiting for him at Stafford obtained a brilliant view of Halley’s comet, which was visible to the naked eye. Mr White states that the high wind after he left Rugby twisted his aeroplane three times. Later. Mr White this evening resumed his journey towards Manchester, but was caught in a storm and abandoned his attempt.