GREATEST THRILL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 149, 23 March 1928, Page 11

GREATEST THRILL

GIVEN KING AMANULLAH IN THE WEST FLIGHT OVER LONDON Rugby, March 21. King Amanullah of Afghanistan had what he described as the “greatest thrill which the West has given me,” when he flew over London to-day. Ihe machine in which he flew was an Ano-strong-Siddeley “Argosy,” the largest air liner in the world, a twentyseater used by' the Imperial Airways on the cross-Channel services. Captain Rogers was the pilot. Including Sir Samuel Hoare (Secretary for Air), Air-Vice-Marshal Sir Sefton Brancker, Sir Francis Humphreys (British Minister at Kabul), and the members of the King’s suite), there were seventeen passengers in addition to the pilot, mechanic, and steward) King Amanullah eagerly watched the constantly changing panorama below. On his head was a pair of ear-phones, by means of which he could hepr the wireless conversation being carried on between Croydon aerodrome and the pilot. The King,, through an interpreter, declared that one of the things that pleased him most was to see Buckingham Palace and its grounds as he flew over! head. The air liner flew at a height of about 2500 feet. After passing over the Crystal Palace it went down the Thames to the Tower of London, then over St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and Hyde Park, crossing the Thames on the’ return journey over Vauxhall Bridge. A perfect landing was made after the flight. A Handley-Page machine also took up the remainder of King Amanullah’s suite. King Amanullah left London this afternoon for Swindon, where he went over the Great Western Railway Company’s works. —British Official .Wireless.