Secret Flight

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 621, 25 March 1929, Page 9

Secret Flight

SPAIN TO SOUTH AMERICA Airmen Take Off From Seville (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Received 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Sunday. A MESSAGE from Seville states that the Spanish airplane Jesus del Granpoder took off this afternoon on a transAtlantic flight to South America. It is piloted by Captains Jimenez and Iglesas.

The start was made in great secrecy. The 'pilots to give a definite indication of their course, which may be via Havana, thence to Brazil, or direct to Rio de Janeiro. Their only food is mineral water and chocolate. The machine was fitted with an auxiliary undercarriage, which was released when the plane had run 300 yards. After another 300 yards the plane took off and circling round the city headed toward the Atlantic. NON-STOP RECORD BRITISH MONOPLANE TO MAKE ATTEMPT (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) Reed. 1.29 p.m. LONDON, Sunday. The ,ne wgiant Fairey moonplane, built for the Air Ministry, after a successful 24 hours non-stop test flight, will attempt the world’s non-stop

record by flying 6,000 miles from London to Durban, starting to-morrow. The pilot will be Squadron-Leader Jones-Williams. The second pilot and navigator is Flight-Lieutenant Major.

The monoplane is the first of its kind ever built by the Fairey Company, and bears a strong resemblance to the Fairey 3F biplane high-speed bombers, over 100 of which are now in use by the Royal Air Force. The engine is a special Napier, developed from the Napier Lion, as used in the Schneider Cup racing machines. The object aimed at is to bring every part of the world within 120 hours of England. It is anticipated that this new monoplane could, under favourable conditions, transport a person or a document to any part of the globe in three stages in five days. Th present long-distance record is held by Italy with a flight from Rome to South America. GRAF ZEPPELIN READY FLIGHT TO PALESTINE (Australian and N.Z. Press -Association) Reed. 12.5 p.m. BERLIN, Sunday. Preparations have been completed for an early morning start by the Graf Zeppelin for Palestine. The route to be taken will be longer than the journey across the Atlantic. The airship will carry 40 passengers, including President Hindenburg and several members of the Reichstag.