IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1919, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

THE AVIATORS ENTERTAINED. VALUABLE LESSONS GAINED, Received May 29, 8.35 p.m. London, May 28. Hawker and Grieve were entertained at luncheon at the iSavoy Hotel. MrsHawker was the only woman present. Major-General Seely, Air Minister, presented the aviators with u cheque for £SOOO from the Daily Mail proprietors, and read greetings from General Trench - ard, on behalf of the Air Force. It was noteworthy that King George disregarded red tape and took the earliest opportunity of decorating the aviators. Hawker, responding to the toast, said he had waited impatiently until the people of Newfoundland believed he would never leave. The weather on the British side was reported good, and finally the conditions were such that, apart from the question of the prize, any man would make the attempt. Grieve explained the difficulties of obtaining bearings of the stars and moon owing to the clouds. The venture would be a valuable lesson for the benefit of future air navigators. Mr. Fishier, toasting the chairman, pointed out that it was not the men who failed; it was the machine. If they bad two engines next time they would succeed.—Aiis. N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE AIRMEN DECORATED. BY KING GEORGE. Received May 29, 9.4 C p.m. 'London, May 28. The King invested Hawker and Grieve with the Air Force Cross. This is the first personal investiture by his Majesty, who received the airmen at Buckingham Palace. Immense crowds ovationed them in the streets. Subsequently the Queen and the Prince of Wales receivd them.—Aua. N-Z. Cable Assoc. THE TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT. MORE AMERICANS START FROM NEWFOUNDLAND. New York, May 10. The Trepassey Bay correspondent of the New York Times states that after an unsuccessful initial attempt to leave for the Azores on May 15, three United States naval seaplanes started on the trans-Atlantic flight on the lfith, a few minutes after 6 p.m. The mechanics worked ail night repairing one plane which had been damaged h the flight from Halifax to Trepassey. The machines; weighed 28,2001b. each, fully loaded. They must travel 1540 miles in order tu reach Ponta del Garda, Azores. It is expected to complete the trip in sixteen hours.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PROJECTED ROUND TRIP. OF MONSTER BRITISH AIRSHIP. London, May IV. The Air Ministry contemplates the super-airship R34 shortly attempting a non-stop Atlantic flight from Ireland to Newfoundland, via the Azores, carrying sufficient fuel for the round trip. It is pointed out that there is no hangar in America large enough to house the monster airship.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA. HINKLER TO START SHORTLY. Beeeived May 29, 9.40 p.m. London, May 27. Hinkler will make an unaccompanied flight to Australia. He expects to start in a few days, otherwise the monsoons will cause the postponement for three months. His preparations are completed. He awaits the Aero Club's appointment of an official starter at the Hounslow aerodrome, also an examiner at Singapore, where the machine will bo checked. The machine carries 571 gallons of petrol, sufficient for ten hours' cruising at a speed of ninety miles per hour.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. | A DIRIGIBLE RECOVERED. St. John's, May 18. A United States destroyer has returned with the dirigible which was lost at *ca.