FLIGHT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1051, 16 January 1913, Page 4

FLIGHT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

GRAHAME WHITE’S SCHEME.

Across the Atlantic from England to New York in 30 hours ! This is the remarkable flight which Mr Grahame White proposes to make next year. All plans for the trip are practically complete. A large hydroaeroplane, driven by four engines of 250 horse-power each, is being designed tor the journey. A smaller machine, driven by four 35-horse-power engines, has been constructed for experimental flights. A number of trials will be made with the larger machine, which, it is estimated, will be capable of a speed of 100 miles an hour, enabling the journey from England to America to be accomplished in 30 hours. "Nothing is impossible in aviation,” said Mr Grahame White, in outlining his scheme to a London pressman. ‘T am confident that the journe; cau be accomplished. "Wheu you consider the wonderful strides that have been made in the art of aviation during the past two or three years, and the potentialities of the aeroplane, a flight to America in less than two days is well within the bounds of possibility. Indeed, in another 10 to 15 years the journey by air may well be accomplished iu 15 hours.

“We shall, of course, test the machine fully before making the flight. I propose to carry six persons—two pilots, two mechanics, and two passengers. One man who is anxious to accompany me has already made a handsome offer. The machine will be constructed at Hendon.

“I hope to land in New York Harbour, and doubtless our appearance there will cause some surprise. Such a flight has been talked about a good deal in the world of aviation, and I may say that for me it has a great attraction.

“I have not yet fixed on my place of departure, nor do 1 know what period of the year I shall select. It will depend largely on the weather. Autumn, for instance, may be more favourable than summer for the journey. It has appeared to me more than once when I have crossed the Atlantic. The sea in autumn has been calmer than, say, in July. “I estimate that the experiment will cost anything between ,£15,000 and ,£20,000. The quantity of petrol that we shall use, for instance, will be enormous. The engines will be larger than any yet designed, and I anticipate some difficulty in obtaining them. It is, of course, highly important that, for the greater part of the journey, they should be reliable and efficient. We shall be able to dispense with one of them (should it fail us) for the last part of the journey, because the aeroplane will be lighter, owing to the expenditure of fuel.

“No provision will be made for boats along the track. Such assistance will be uunecessaiy, for even if we come down on the ocean we shall be able to keep afloat, and also rise again. We shall endeavour to keep in touch with liners, which will be able to obtain for us by wireless telegraphy information as to the state of the weather ahead.’’ Mr Grahame White is enthusiastic about his scheme, which would, when accomplished, pave the way for even greater feats in aviation. It would, of course, eclipse anything that has yet been accomplished by dirigibles on long journeys.