AVIATION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16654, 15 October 1919, Page 7

AVIATION.

TRANS-CONTINENTAL FLIGHT.

(By Cablo—Press Association—Copyris&t.) (Australian and N.Z. Coble Association.) [ NEW YORK, October 13. ? Captain Smith claims that ho arrived ? at Now York from San Francisco sooner ? than Lieutenant Maynard arrived at San Francisco from New York. Cap- * tain Smith's time was 24 hours 30 minutes. Lieutenant Maynard hopes later to cross the continent in a special machine in two days. THE RETURN JOURNEY. (Received October 14th, 5.55 p.m.) ; NEW YORK, October 13. It is reported that live trans-Conti-nental fliers from Mineola have arrived at San Francisco, and two have arrived at Mineola from San Francisco, making j a total of seven fliers who havo comr pleted ono way in tho journey. It is * announced from Washington that the j) fliers will now bo permitted to return i 48 hours after completing one way. ; LONDON TO AUSTRALIA. LONDON, October 13. Tho Sopwith airplane, "Wallaby, i which Captain Matthews is using on I tho flight to Australia, is similar to > tho machine used by Hawker in his ' trans-Atlantic flight, hut stronger in > vie<sjr of possible rough landings. The i strengthening of tho machine, howi ever, does not make any difference in ! its speed. Its maximum speed is 121 ■ miles per hour, ancl its lowest 48 ._ _ Its cruising speed at an altitudo of 5000 ■ feot is 107 miles hourly on 15 gallons » of petrol. Tho machine can bo flown either as an open or an enclosed, well ventilated, limousine, as tho weather dictates. Complete dual control is provided, so that either tho pilot or observer can fly tho machine. Provision is made for carrying smoko T3t>mbs to 1 enable the aviators to estimate the amount of drift. Captain Matthews has devised special instruments to correct the compasses. Tho exhaust from the engines is carried woll aft to dimin--1 ish the noise. The machine is able to cany eight persons, and is also adapted for the carriage of mails. A SURPRISE DEVELOPMENT.. (Received October 14th, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON. October 13. A surprise development threatens to postpone the departure of aeroplanes for Australia. The Air Ministry hfis informed the competitors that it finds that the supplies of petrol at several essential aerodromes en route to India are insufficient. Matthews intends to defy the Air Convention bv flying over Germanv and landing in Serbia, Roupiania, and Turkey. POTTLET DELAYED. (Received October 14th. 5.5 p.m.) PARTS. October 13. Fog prevented Ponlot's third attempt. He expects that more favourable weather will permit a start to-day. A FRESH START. (Received October 15th, 12.30 a.m.) PARIS, October 14., Poulet started out on his flight tb Melbourne at 7 o'clock this morning. The weather was splendid.