A MORNING’S FLIGHT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1034, 23 April 1912, Page 4

A MORNING’S FLIGHT.

FROM LONDON TO PARIS

“It’s a line morning. I think I’ll ily to Paris.” So remarked I\l. Henri Salmet, the French aviator, at Hendon, one bright sunny morning last month. Casually as tire intention was announced, its carrying into effect embodied the accomplishment of a remarkable performance. Not merely was it that the aviator made a non-stop flight from London to Paris —that has been done once before —but he accomplished the journey in the astonishing quick time of 3b. 14mm. In doing so he established a record, his predecessor and compatriot, M. Pierre Frier, having taken 3b. 56min, or 42rain longer, when he flew from capital to capital on April 12th of last year. In each case the machine used was of the same type, a Bleriot monoplane, whilst another parallel circumstance is that M. Salmet is the chief pilot of the Bleriot school at Plendou, and that M. Frier was his immediate forerunner in that position, which he resigned about six mouths ago to join the Bristol company. The latter flew via Dover and Calais, hut Salmet travelled by way of Hast bon rue, and in so doing made a longer sea pasasge than any previous cross Channel airman. Starting and finishing points were, however, the same —Heudon aud Issy - les - Moulineaux, flying grounds on the outskirts of Tendon aud Paris respectively. Although he accomplished such a striking leat, Salmet did not achieve the object with which he set out to make the return aerial journey in one day. He started from Paris at 2.15 for this purpose, but late that night a message was received in London to the effect that the aviator bad come down at Berck-sur-Mcr, the wind being too strong lor him to continue his journey. This was Salmet’s second attempt at the journey. In his first effort, made some days belore, he got lost in the log before getting away from Loudon, aud finding himself over housetops, descended in the first open space he found, which proved to be Regent’s Park. Although a fresh wind was blowing when he made his second venture, the weather was regarded as favourable when Salmet starred from the aerodrome at Heudou ou his Bleriot monoplane —a machine of the latest type, with a 30 h.p. Gnome engine. Determined to make a non-stop flight if at all possible, he rook with him an ample supply ot petrol. In addition to the standard tank, a supplementary tank was fixed at the rear ol the pilot’s seat, aud together these held seventeen gallons ol petrol —sufficient to keep the engine going tor at least three hours aud a-half. As a precaution against the possibility of a tall into the Channel, the tabric ot the monoplane was waterproofed as iar as possible, the wings aud other parts being varnished with a special preparation calcuiated to resist the water so that the machine would keep afloat for a considerable lime. In a recent test the machine had rested ou the water lor tom hours without showing auy signs of sinking, so that the aviator felt confident of his safety it he should be compelled to descend ih the Channel in a fairly smooth sea. Round his waist Salmet wore a unique litebelt in the shape of an inflated inner-lube Irom the wheel ol one of the monoplanes in the Bleriot school. A leather cap covering the head aud a portion of the face was worn as a protection against the wind aud the rush ol air created by the flight. it was half-past seven when the engine was started by the mechanics, aud as soon as it was found to be running smoothly, the monoplane was released, the exact time being 7.43. -ft was somewhat slow in using, this being attributed to the weight of the unusually large quantity of petrol, but after a minute or so a sufficient altitude had been reached to make it sate for the aviator to leave the open stretch ot the aerodrome. Ou me ground level the air was almost maiouiess, but when the monoplane was about Boott. up it was seen to rock considerably—an evidence that there was more wind in the upper regions. When he had flown in three wide circles round the aerodrome, Salmet had reached a height ot something like x,ooott, and, speeding away at this altitude, he was quickly out of sight.