AVIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 4031, 16 June 1931, Page 24

AVIATION.

LONDON TO BUCHAREST. RUGBY, June 8. Flying a Puss Moth machine, Mr Jackaman left London at 3.30 a.m. in an attempt to reach Bucharest in one day. If successful the flight will establish a record distance for a light aeroplane in one day. CRASH IN BURMA. DELHI, June 8. A French Air Orient Line plane, operating a fortnightly mail service between Saigon and Paris, crashed in a river near Sandoway (Burma). Three bodies, presumed to be those of the two pilots and the mechanic, have been recovered. CALCUTTA, June 10. Four people perished in the French airliner crash in Burma. The bodies have been recovered. Apparently the machine, driven down heavily in a monsoon storm, hit a tree and fell into a river. The occupants were trapped in the wreckage. Portion of the mails has been recovered. AUSTRALIAN FLYER MISSING. SYDNEY, June 10. Grave fears are held for the safety of Mr Joseph Ekins, aircraft inspector of the Civil Aviation Department, who is missing between Melbourne and Albury in exactly the same circumstances as those which attended the ill-fated Southern Cloud. He is now more than 30 hours overdue. He left Melbourne under very bad flying conditions. June 12 There is still no sign of the airman Ekins, although 12 planes have fruitlessly searched. AVIATOR LOST IN JUNGLE. SYDNEY, June 10. A message from New Guinea states that a search for the missing aviator, Mr Trist, who was forced down in the jungle on May 22, proved unavailing. SCOTT’S RECORD FLIGHT. RUGBY, June 9. The King has sent, through the Secretary for Air (Lord Amulree) a congratulatory message to Mr C. W. A. Scott on breaking the record for a flight from Australia to England. His Majesty sent a similar message to Mr Scott when he reached Australia in record flying time. BALLOON BREAKS AWAY. PARIS, June 12. An extraordinary incident occurred at the French Air Force manoeuvres at Toulouse. A captive balloon escaped and drifted over the village of Balma. The guy ropes became entangled in a church spire and the strain caused it to crack extensively. The spire is in imminent danger of collapse and the evacuation of all neighbouring houses has been ordered.

CAPTAIN CHICHESTER. SYDNEY, June 13. Yesterday efforts to interview Captain Chichester aboard the Albatross were unavailing, “ I do not wish to be discourteous,” he told an officer who tried to bring him in touch with the pressmen; “ I will not see reporters. I have done nothing to make a song about, and I do not like publicity.” He is the guest of the captain. It is understood that Captain Chichester told the officers that visibility on the hon from Lord Howe Island was so bad that at times he was flying within a few feet of the sea. The wind was unfavourable and the magneto gave trouble. He is wearing a black bushy beard, and says there are more important things to do than shave. It is believed that he is looking in the direction of Japan for the next hop. ACCIDENTS IN GERMANY. BERLIN, June 14. There were seven deaths as the result of air accidents on Saturday. Four people were incinerated when a com- , merci al machine crashed in flames at Saarbrucken and three were killed at Dessau aviation school.