IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 June 1919, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

.--—o—~— » . THE GREAT FLIGHT. AIRMEN RECEIVE ROYAL coNeRA‘TUT;ATIONs. LONDON, "June 15. The King and Queen sent their warmest congratulations to Aviators Alcock and Brown. The. latter is shortly to marry the daughter of Major Kennedy, one of the chiefs of the Aircraft Production Department of the Minisrty of Munitions. She is naturally delighted, almlost overwhelmed, at the result of the flight. ‘ The Aero Club describes the air"men ’s feat as marvellous, the swiftnesis of their transit coming «as a great ‘surprise. As soon as the machine is repaired, Alcock will continue. the journey. He proposes #0 give" an exhibition over London. Alcock ‘made-na great reputation as a night flyer during the war. The .' Vickers-Vimy machine used was an ordinary War machine, the only;alteration being the .substitution of petrol tanks for bombs. . , “A W; Hawker, interviewed, said, Aleock’s feat was magnificent. He was very glad Alcock had been able to rnake the flight in a real fashion, without the ma of ships, and all that kind of thing. Army Airship R 34 inade a most. successful trial prior to the Atlantic flight, and esta.blis’hed' wireless connection With the "Kzorcs.

Alcock telegraphed the Daily Mail: The journey was terrible. It is a Wonder we arrived at all. VVe scarcely saw the sun or moon. We plunged-into a dense fog. The machine was sheeted in frozen sleet for four hours, but the winds were favourable throughout, and we did not sufier from cold or exhaustion. One-thi_rd of‘ ‘our fuel was left. The experience suggests that flying boats -are best for the Atlantic.