K.A.F. MONOPLANE LANDS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20777, 10 February 1933, Page 11

K.A.F. MONOPLANE LANDS.

WORLD'S RECORD EASILY SURPASSED. HEAD WINDS PUT CAPE TOWN OUT OF. RANGE. (vxntD rfcess Associ.vnos-Bi euscl'Aio tbleqbape—copyaiGirr.) CAPE TOWN, Februaa-y 8. The long-distauce monoplane piloted by the Royal Air Force oflicers, Squadron Leader 0. R. Gayford and Flight Lieutenant G. E. Nicholetts, broke the world's non-stop record when it passed Zesfontein, 5074 miles from Cramvelt Aerodrome, about noon. Two hours latei,' tho pilots signalled that they intended, to land at Ludentz (German bouth-Wcst Africa, now known as Angra Poquena), presumably becauso of shortage of fuel. Later it was reported that the aeroplane had landed at Walfish Buy, in South-West Africa, at 4.-10 p.m. The officers will fly to Capo Town to-morrow. Squalls a;nd head winds prevented a greater range. It is officially stated that the distance on which the record will be claimed is 5300 miles. The flyers were aloft 37 hours and 25 minutes, actually avornged nearly 100 miles an hour, and flew over GOCO miles. The King, Air Ramsay MacDonnld, Lord Londonderry (Secretary of State for Air), the Air Council. Lord Amulree (a former Secretary of State for Air), and the Fairey Aviation Company (makers of the aeroplane) have cabled their congratulations. THE ATR MINISTRY'S COMMENT. STRATEGICAL SIGNIFICANCE STRESSED. I (BftlTISlI OmCUI. WIftBUSSS.) 'RUGBY, February 9. The Air Ministry says: "The capture of the long-distance i record means that Great Britain now holds three of the world's ulain aviation records, namely, speed, altitude, i'.nd distance. These records collectively illustrate the outstanding merits ol British aircraft engines and equipment. "The flight has also shown the proI gress being made in the solution of a i very important problem, namely, the economical employment of our limited iiir resource.*. This territories in which the Royal Air Force may be called upon to operate nt short notice lie in so many parts of the world that it is impossible to station in all of them :i permanent air garrison adequate io .deal with all the circumstances Which can arise. "The policy of the Air Ministry, therefore, has been to develop a system by which air units can be flown rapidly from olio area to another, as the situation may demand, and this, in many instances, is only possible if the aircraft can edver long stretches without intermediate landings. "Many of these stretches are beyond j the capacity of tho present-din- service aircraft, and it is mainly with the intention of developing this capacity that experiments in this production of a special lohs-range aircraft arc being undertaken." FRENCH ATTEMPT ON NUW RECORD, ttEWAftb OFFERED FOR SUCCESS, PARIS, February R. Directly Squadron Leader Gayford '$ record was announced the Air Ministry offered A prize of £BOOO to Frenchman exceeding tho distance. The flyers Bossoutrot and Rossi are already at Istres planning to leave on Thursday for Buenos Aires, a distance of <5250 miles. JAPANESE AIRMEN DROWNED. FLYING-BOAT CRASHES INTO THE SEA. (Received February 9, 11.40 p.m.) TOKYO, February 9. A Short Brothers nying-boat, the largest in use in the Navy, -Was yesterday practising a night flight at the entrance to Tokyo Bay, when it plunged into the ocean. Seven men were. saved and three drowned, including the lieutenant-commander, who was piloting the machine. Divers are searching for the wreck. ~ -FOUR. AlttMBP KILLED. AEttOPLANE HITS TftEE IN A MIST. LONDON, February 8. Four were kilted when a Royal Air Force nem|Miiiie, eiCrCishig fit Salisbury, met a. heavy ground mist and struck a tree, smashing the petrol tank, which caught fins before the occupants could escape. Ail' OrnfUMfUi Hipwell, who was thrown 'jlear fre-rii the rear df the hflniber, Citierged from tltfe mist halfduwid, fhfce blackened, e.yobrOWd singed, and the tipper half of his uniform burnotl. He broke the flows to two I armors that lii.s four companions wore burning to dcrttll, arid drlGtl, "For God's Hike, coihe rjuickly." . The rietinia were Flying Officer PiL ciler, Sc>Wiitit Allcln, .Corporal Smith, and Air rjrnftsnitth Sh6ll. ' Tho farmers rushed to the scene, but ton ml tllnt the rn&rllig flames pfocli'ded tho removal of the bodies until orih< the froniewoi'h remnihed. The Air Force casualties total seven since January 1. ENGLAND tO AUSTRALIA AIR mail: OPlllltATtON UUELY THIS YEAH. LONDON, February 8In the Souse of Gommons Sir Philip BAaaoM (Vtmsmmty. ti But* for Air) mM he hoped that the Australian iir-mall Would he 6pertt»ig late in th« ednllllg summer.