IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 June 1919, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

THE TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT A WONDERFUL -' PERFORMANCE Received 9.30 a.m. V NEW YORK, June 15. The New York Times’VLondon correspondent interviewed Hawker, who stated: The Vickers Vim)’ Illac_hine's success is a very fine performance I heartily congratulate Alcock and Brown On the time taken in the flight, namely sixteen hours. This is very quick, and shows they evidently met better weather conditions than Grieve and I. But under the best possible conditions such a flight was wonderful. I note their wireless failed, like ours.‘ it seems there must be something to learn about that yet. ' NEW YORK, June 15 Brown, -at the lastzmoment took a small pocket flash lamp with him to use in reading the instruments in the event of the cockpit lighting system failing. Alcock expressed a. hope that if he succeeded in crossing the Atlantic he would make another flight from London to New York in a large specially built Vickers machine. SECRETARY DAN‘IEL’S APPRECIATION Received 9.30 am, \ NEW YORK, June 16 The New York Times’ Washington core-spondent states that Mr. Josephus Daniels sent a letter to the Senate Naval Committee urging the Senate to appropriate forty-five million dollars for naval aviation. Mr_ Daniels said Britain appropriated 320 million dollars for aviation. V ,' V - Mr. Daniels, commenting‘ bnV the Vickers—Vinly flight remarlicdzu-VIVt ‘is -a. wonderful feat. I congratulate Aleock and Brown ‘on ltlieirpflight, which .is indicative of great accomplishments inaviatien-‘in the future. V p _

. ~ ANAMERICAN IDEA. T « Received 9.10 a-.m. . A NEW YORK,,.Iune 15. The New York Tinies’ Washi‘ngto'n correspondent states Mr. Daniels has disclosed the’ fact that the Navy was planning a trans-Pacific flight with a Lighterthanair craft, but the reduction of appropriations by the House Naval Committee may prevent the carrying out of the project. V A DIR|GI_BLES ATTEMPT. Received 9.10 am. T NEW YROK, June "16. The New York Times Washington correspondent states that dirigible R 34, which expects soon -to’ start across the Atlantic from England to the United States-, will land at Mincola aviation field, Long Island for the purpose of re—fuelling. ALCOCK' AND BROWN IN LONDON. A-BIG OVATION: - c‘ ' i . .~LoNDoN,-June 17. . Alcock and Brown were given an ovation on their arrival at Euston Station, carrying -a. film Atlantic ‘air-_ mailbag. Hawker was among the first to congratulate them: .‘ A procession was formed to the Aero Club, where congratulatiory speeches were made. ' STORY OF THE ADVENTURE.

NEW YORK, June 14.

j The New York Times’s St. Jo’hn’s icoi.-respondent reports: The VickersiVimy airplane stal;'t.ed\\for iEngland ; under exceptionally hazarduous circumj stances. A veering wind was blowing i with the strength of half a gale. Mulller, head of the Vickers’ Aviation Delpartment, forbade Alcock to make a . start, but the pilot finally succeeded in |ot-taining permission. The plane rose a hundred feet in the air, and fought the wind valiantly, but. because it was ; heavily loaded did not succeed at first :in gaining an altitude, but at last the machine shot higher: and circled over St. John’s, then headed seaward. AL cock sexpressdd the [hope Htkllflt they would average 90 miles an hour for the entire trip. News of the. departure was broadcasted by the Marconi st«a.tion to all ships at sea, with the request that lthey ‘givfe ashisftance. if necessary. Two black cats, as mascots, accompanied the aviators . in the biplane. Brown also carried a. tiny American flag, given him by his fiancee. Brown is an American. Each aviator wore an electrically—heated waistcoat, gloves, and boots, and carried a flask "of brandy, and several bottles of coffee and water. The aviators first took cigarettes, but they decided not to smoke, because of the danger of igniting the petrol. BIIG AIRSHIP CHANGES. ‘ LONDON’, June 3.8. Army airship R 34 has postp\ ted list Atlantic flight and proceeded. fully B(llliDD'ed, with bombs ani maehine- 1 guns, to cruise the (ierrnan mast.