GREAT AIR FLIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1919, Page 2

GREAT AIR FLIGHT.

MAJOR SALMOND'S EXPLOIT. 3233 MILES IN 47 HOURS. London, Dee. 27. Reuter's correspondent at Delhi reports that Major-General Salmond, who made the wonderful flight in the Handley Page aeroplane, stated, when interviewed that the original purpose of his flight from Egypt was to make a tour of inspection in Mesopotamia; but the weather being favorable, the Air Ministry ordered that the flight should be made towards India. Mails were collected and delivered eh route. The distance from Cairo to Delhi was 3233 miles, which was covered in 47 hours 20 minutes. No trouble was experienced on the journey The partV carried a letter from the" Shereef Eelsiil to his son, the King of IJedjaz, asking the Arabs to assist them if necessary. The fact that the flight wa.s accomplished by the ordinary service machineshowed what a future" lay before aviation for commercial purposes. The Times correspondent at Delhi reports that Major-General Salmond received a great welcome on his arrival from Egypt. lie circled over the city before descending'. A great concourse, including the Commander-in-Chief ot the headquarters staff and other high officials, watched the flight, which 'has undoubtedly stimulated interest in avia' tion. A proposal for aerial internal mail services has been submitted to the GovA curious incident occurred while Major-General Salmond was travelling the desert A rat came aboard at Charbar, and wa3 heard nibbling at the machinery. The career of the rodent was terminated when it fell from tho aeroplane from a height of 7000 ft. Major-General Salmond spent several | days in Mesopotamia, inspecting air units | Major-OeiHT'l Salmond'a journey included a sustained flight of 495 'miles from Damascus to Bagdad in 0 hours 53 minutes. He also flew without a stop from Karachi to Xusirabad, 4x3 miles, in (i hours 35 minutes Mnjor-( .Jonerul Siilmond poi nts out that in the future large mail aeroplanes could be used on tho frontier for military purposes if troubles recur.