IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 May 1919, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

AMERICAN PLANE LEAVES LISBON. FOR PLYMOUTH. Received May 31, 8.50 a.m, NEW YORK, May 30. The United States aeroplane, N.C.4, loft Lisbon for Plymouth. AMERICA’S EFFORT. PLANNED TO MINUTEST DETAIL. Received May 31, 8.50 a.m. NEW YORK, May 17. The New York World’s Washington correspondent If he Navy Department has revealed the contents of scaled orders, showing the seaplane’s flight wa s planned to the minutest details many months ago. The orders oc, ine the speed, equipment, route, crow of ’planes, manner in which the ht course is to be patrolled by war vessels, wireless, place of lauding at Azores, etc. The orders state that after arrival at Azores, the ’planes were t!o refuel quickly, remain not me re than one night, and start for lAbon. 900 miles away, thence, after a ’•iont’s stay, to fly to Plymouth, England. 775 miles.

WHAT IT IS COSTING THE YANKS

Received May 31, 9.10 a.m. NEW YORK, May 18

Trepassey Bay estimates that the trans-Atlantic flight will cost the United States one million dollars, of which 50,000 is chargeable to research; 200,000 to airplane equipment, and the balance to the operations of destroyers.

N.C.I COMES DOWN,

Received May 31, 9.10 a.m. LONDON, May 30

A wireless message received states that N.C.4 (the American seaplane) has been compelled to descend at Mondogo, one hundred miles north of Lisbon.

ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN HIS ENGINE.

Received May 31, 0.50 a.m

NEW YCfRK, May 19

Hawker stated before leaving be bad absolute confidence in hi& engine and his navigator, Grieve. He asked Grieve if he couldn't dispense with his pyjamas in order to lighten the ’plane. When asked if lie was able to sleep du; the voyage. Hawker replied that he would nor have long to sleep at the end. Hawker estimated he would have five hours’ sunlight, then starlight and moonlight. He- anticipated the trip would occupy nineteen hours. He believed he would be able to maintain a speed of 106 miles a.il hour, and faster by dropping the under carriage.

N.C. 4’S TRIP,

DESCRIBED BY ITS COMMANDER

NEW YORK, May 29. Commander Road, describing the journey of N.C. 4 to Azores, says he started his- flight at an altitude of eight hundred feet, then rose to eighteen hundred feet. He sighted each destroyer owing to their brilliant illumination. After passing the sixteenth destroyer the airplane entered a fog and was compelled to rise to three thousand feet. The fog prevented his flight direct to Pontcadelgada. The seaplane needed only repairs

STORY OF HAWKER’S FLIGHT

GRAPHIC STORY QF HIS

DEPARTURE,

COMPETITOR’S MACHINE CRASHES.

Received 9.40 a.m

NEW YORK, May 20

The New York Times’ St. Johns correspondent states Hawker’s machine weighed 6,200 pounds, and was so heavily laden that it wa s at' first believed it would not be able to rise, but after racing over Mount Pearl Field for a distance of thjee hundred yards she soared gracefully skywards. The few spectators who witnessed the flight cheered heartily, and watched the machine circle about and manoeuvre into the wind. She set her face over the city, and thence over Qui Divide, where Hawker signalled “Farewell to Raynham,” and headed seaward. The marine signalling station at Cabot Power which surmounts the hill at the north entrance of St. John’s harbour, signalled to her, and within ten minutes the Sopwith was out of sight. When Raynham saw that Hawker had started, he took the matter philosophically, and said he could give the Sopwith two or three hours’ lead and still beat it, because his Martinsjde could travel twenty miles an hour faster, A few minutes later than Hawker, Raynham, and Morgan pushed their machine out of the hangar on Qui Divide field., and started the engine, and about an hour after Hawker’s departure Raynham wa s ready for th’e' start. His

machine rose a few teet, Then. fell, smashing the wings aud body, and crumpling the under carriage, jarring the engine and fnsilage. Expert airmen present declare the machine is unfit for further flying unless taken to England and repaired. About ten thousand persons witnessed the accident. Morgan and Raynham were cut about the face, but were able to walk unassisted. AERIAL MISHAPS. Received 9.10 a.m. ROME, May 18. Ten British arrived on route to Egypt. Nine lauded safely, but the tenth crashed, pinning its five occupants underneath. LONDON. May IS. The correct story of the Rome disaster is two Handley-Page machines flew from Marseilles. The first landed successfully at Cenpocellc aerodrome. The second, in endeavouring to avoid the first, struck a big tree and crashed into a deep trench. Lieuteants Prince and Spratt were killed, Colonel Laurence broke his arm, and the mechanic was slightly wounded.

AMERICAN SEAPPLANES’ EXPLOITS.

(Delayed.)

NEW YORK, May 17

The New York Times' correspondent at Trcpasscy Bay. Newfoundland, states that the United States seaplanes which started on the. trails-Atlantic flight, were each equipped with four Liberty twelve-cylinder motors, developing 1(500 horse-power. Each plane carried 1700 gallons of petrol, and wag able to develop 90 miles an hour. The 'planes carried six men each, and measured 120 Greet. Although not the. largest machines in the world, they are considered the m'ost powerful. The weight of petrol on each machine was IO.OOOIbs. They also ‘carried 9001bs of lubricating oil. The 'planes were equipped with wireless with a range of 300 miles ( enabling them to be in keen and constant touch with United States’ warships, which patrolled the Atlantic from Trcpasscy to the Azores, at intervals of 50 miles.

A United Press correspondent, says that 21 American destroyers patrolled the route of flight. The destroyer Melville wirelessed that No, 4 was 50 miles from Horto (Azores) at 8.10 a.m., Washington time, and landed at Horta at 9.30. During the whole flight, and at intervals of less than an hour, patrolling destroyers received wireless messages from the seaplanes. These messages were transmitted to Wahington, where large asemblagcs of officials awaited them eagerly. The seaplanes were making a speed of 95 miles an licur during the first eight hours of the journey. No. 4 developed engine trouble on the first leg of the journey, from. Kockaway to Halifax, and required heavy repairs at. Trcpasscy before starting for the Azores.

WASHINGTON. May 17

The Navy Department announces that the corrected 'time of No. 1 from Trepasscy to Horta was 15 hours 15 minutes, and the distance 1200 miles. Commander Read piloted No. 4.

XJ.S. NOT COMPETING WITH BRITAIN.

NEW YORK, May 17

Mr Daniels announced that the Americans have been prepared for the past two years for the trans-Atlantic flight. There was no intention of competing against the British. The Americans’ object is to chart a feasible air route between Europe and America. STORY OF THE FLIGHT. NEW YORK, May 17. The New York Times’ Trepassey correspondent says he learns on good authority that if the seaplanes reach England they may try a flight back, in the event of the winds being favourable. Tlie shores of Trepassey Bay were lined by thousands of natives, fishermen, and British and American sailors, when the three seaplanes rose in (ho air, and the harbour was gay with fishing smacks, small boats, and British and American naval vessels. The

•planes manoeuvred for several minutes, then headed out seaward, the crowds cheering- until the ’planes became specks in the sky. It was originally intended that each ’plane should carry five men, but. Commander Tower decided to lessen the load of petrol by a hundred gallons, (and jinercased Mhe crews to six men, who wore leather suits, and helmets with telephone arrangements attached. Concentrated foods were carried in the event of emergency.

N. 0.4 UNDAMAGED. Received May 31, 12.50 a.m. LONDON, May 30. The aeroplane N.C.4, which descended at the Mondogo River, owin<*- to adverse winds, is nndamaged, and is expected to resume to-morrow.