PARIS BOUND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1927, Page 7

PARIS BOUND.

byrd on the wing.

Flight Started From New York

In 'Plane America.

PROGRESS REPORTS,

(By Cable—Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Received 0.00 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 29. _ Another attempted flight from New "iork to Paris was commenced this morning. The monoplane America left the Roosevelt Field, Long Island, at 5.24 a.m. in charge of Commander Richard Byrd, the hero of the first flight over the North Pole. Also in the machine were Messrs. Bert Acosta and George Noville, pilots, and Bert Balchen, i'- v if pilot. In a final interview Commander Byrd said: "We are not going to have ideal weather. The conditions are not anything like as good as those Captain Lindbergh and Mr. Chamberlain had." In taking off the America, with a weight of seven tons, carried the heaviest load any 'plane has ever lifted. It was a perfect take-off and careful weight-balancing prevented carrying Engineer Kinkade as a fifth passenger. The departure was witnessed by 10,000 persons, despite the sudden decision to start. Taris is definitely the destination. The America was escorted by i' ic 'planes and frequently shifted course as a test of the navigation instruments. Automatic wireless signals were picked up an hour later, while the liners Homeric and Corintliia radioed at 8.40 a.m., placing Byrd between Cape Cod and Yar mouth. The atmospheric conditions of tl-c Atlantic were reported to be fair.