TEN MILES HIGH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 223, 21 September 1931, Page 7

TEN MILES HIGH.

UPPER AIR 'PLANE.

German Machine Built to Travel

In Stratosphere.

NEW STEP IN AVIATION.

(United P.A.-Electric Telegraph-Copyright)

(Received 2 p.m.)

BERLIN, September 20,

The world's first stratosphere aeroplane is ready to commence its pioneer flight in the region of tliin air 10 miles above the earth,. This has hitherto teen penetrated only by Professor Piccard's balloon, which ascended from Augsburg last May to a height of 51,000 ft.

The machine has been built with the , strictest secrecy at the Junkers works at Dessau, Germany. It has a wingspan of 85ft and the airtight cabin has reinforced walls. The designers are confident that it will be the forerunner of a fleet of machines capable of speeding through the stormless upper atmosphere, rapidly linking Europe with America.

NEW AIR TRIUMPHS.

British Flying Boat's Long Trip

To East and Back.

OUTSTANDING- PERFORMANCE.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 9.30 a.m.)

RUGBY, September 20,

The performance of the Royal Air Force flying boat which flew on Wednesday from Gibraltar to Plymouth in a single hop of more than 1200 miles is exciting comment among aircraft experts.

the machine is a 1500 horse-power seequiplane styled Saro 7 and manufactured by Messrs. Saunders and Roe. Sliei completed a cruise to the East and back of 8300 miles between August 15 and September 16 in a total flying time of 00 hours, making an average speed of 02 miles an hour. She carried a crew of six.

At Algiers the flying boat successfully rode out at anchor a gale which reached a velocity of 00 miles. v ,

ESCAPE FROM DEATH.

Parachute Fails to Open Until

Near Ground.

MELBOURNE AIRMAN HURT.

(Received 11 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, this day.

Jumping from a 'plane at a height of 1000 feet, Stanley Thomas' parachute failed to open properly until he had nearly reached the ground, which he hit with great force, breaking his right leg and several ribs. Ho also suffered internal injuries.

About 1000 spectators witnessed Thomas' desperate struggle in mid-air to clear the shroud-cords.

AIR SPEED RECORD.

BRITAIN- TO MAKE NEW TRY.

(Received 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, September 20.

Owing, to unexpected difficulties, the Air Ministry has decided that the specially-built racing engine shall not be used in the forthcoming attempt on the world's air speed record of 386 m.p.h.

Flight-Lieutenant Stainforth will use one of the Schneider Trophy standard engines in the seaplane S6B as soon as conditions are favourable. It is expected that he will raise the record by at least 10 miles an hour.

SMITHY'S PLANS.

HOP-OFF FOR ENGLAND.

SYDNEY, September 20.

In a broadcast speech on the eve of his flight from Australia to London, AirCommodore Kingsford Smith said lie hoped to clip 24 hours off Scott's and Mollison's records by flying to England in 7 days 14 hours and returning in 8 days 5 hours.

The airman intends to begin the flight from Point Cooke, Melbourne, on Monday. He will fly via Oodnadatta to Wyndham.

It is understood that later Smith intends to make a solo flight to New Zcalar.i.