AVIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1919, Page 5

AVIATION.

THE TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT..

HAWKER STARTS. Received May 19, 5.5 p.m. St. Johns, May 18.Hawker started his trans-Atlantic flight at 1.55 p.m., New York times. Raynham unsuccessfully attempted to start. His plane fell 200 feet to the ground. The extent of the damage has not yet been determined. London, May 18. Hawker started the Atlantic flight on* Sunday afternoon. The Sopwitb, carrying Hawker and Grieve, left Mount Pearl in ideal conditions, a light wind blowing eaot. The Sky was cloudless and the sunshine brilliant. The start was not announced, and spectators were surprised when t&s Sopwith sped over the city and Steered due east. It turned slightly to the. south-east to the-■ocean and disappeared'* on the horizon. Raynhanrt plane was> irreparably dam-; aged in its fall. Both Raynbam and'j Morgan were slightly injured aboatithe<j face. Received May 19, 10.33 pjn. New York, May 19. No word had been received fromHawker at two o'clock on Monday morn J ing, New York time. Hawker his under carriage in St. John's harbor. THE AMERICAN PLANES. UNFAVORABLE WEATffitMSB® ERS' PROGRESS. Washington, May 8. The State Department announces that seaplane NC4 wiR not leave the Azores for Lisbon until the 19th because of unfavorable weather. NC3 is still missing. Halifax (Nova Scotia), May 10. The United States naval planes have departed en route for Newfoundland. I One returned owing to a defect in thepropeller. St. John's (Newfoundland), May 10. The first American naval plane has arrived from Long Island. Two Handi?y-Page machines were frying from Marseilles to Egypt, one crashed into the aerodrome in Rome and two lisutenants were killed.—Aus.N.Z Cable Assn

Vice-Admiral J. Kerr's Handley-Page machine has arrived, and is preparing for the trans-Atlantic flight. The weather continues unfavorable. An American plane covered 400 miles in 6hr. 54 miu.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn DIRIGIBLES READY. A RACE BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN MACHINES. Received May 19, 5.5, p.m. New York, May 11. Tie New York Times' St John's correspondent states that according to reliable information the United States' navy dirigible will probably start for St. John's from New York within a few days. If the flight is successful the dirigible will probably attempt the trans-Atlantic flight to England. The New York Times Atlantic City correspondent states that Brigadier-Gen-eral Charlton, British air attache to the United States, has announced that the British dirigible R 33 is scheduled to attempt the trans-Atlantic flight from England to the United States within three weeks.

Received May 19, 10.33 pm. London, May 15. Messrs Beardmore are building an airship with two million feet capacity.