TASMAN FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 290, 7 September 1928, Page 11

TASMAN FLIGHT

POSTPONED AGAIN YESTERDAY UNFAVOURABLE WEATHER REPORTS AIRMEN MAY LEAVE TO-DAY United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Sydney, September 6. Owing to unfavourable weather reports the flight of the Southern Cross lias again been postponed, but if the conditions improve the airmen will leave at 5.40 to-morrow afternoon. UNSETTLED WEATHER CONDITIONS VERY DISTURBED Very unsettled weather conditions are prevailing in the Dominion and c over the greater part of the Tasman Sea, making it extremely unlikely that the airmen will be able to start their flight before the week-end. The following report and forecast ' was cabled yesterday by Dr. E. Kid-. ' son, Dominion Meteorologist, to the Government Meteorologist and the airmen at Sydney:— , Conditions very disturbed over Tasman Sea. Northerly to westerly winds, strong generally, and reaching full gale force in places. Unsettled weather. Increasing northerly winds, ■ and wet weather setting in over New Zealand. Expect very unsettled weather conditions for next two or three days. CROSS-COUNTRY SEAPLANE FLIGHT ‘ LONGEST EVER ATTEMPTED (Australian Press Association.) Ottawa, September 5. The longest cross-country seaplane flight ever attempted started on Wednesday when Squadron-Leader A. •E. > Godfrey, of the Canadian Air Force, accompanied by Sergeant-Major GraJ ham as mechanic, hopped off for Lake . Cormorant, Manitoba, and thence to i Vancouver. Godfrey carries the first air mail to the Pacific Coast. i The take-off of the big Fairchild monoplane from Lake Decheme was thrilling. The pilot was unable to . make sufficient headway to lift the ma- ‘ chine from the water, and an official ■ launch rushed across its path, leaving a swell riding high. The pilot finally lifted the machine, which makes tlie ' flight in two hops of 3000 miles, returning after over 6000 miles of a jaunt across Canada.' ASSOLANT RETURNING TO PARIS a ' , 1 AFTER TRIAL FLIGHT (Australian Press Assn.—Dulled Service.) Paris, September 5. It is reported from Casablanca that ■ 1 the aviators Assolaut and Lefevre restarted at 6 tiiis morning for Senegal, but it is rumoured at Le Bourget that after a trial flight they decided not to ■' continue but to return to Paris. Assol- • ‘ ant has broken the record for flying '• i : from Paris to Casablanca in 91 hours, ■■ with an average speed of 137] miles an hour. The Aeronautic Department dis- ' claims any responsibility for tlie flight, as the airmen failed to inform the Department of their intention. The reduced quantity of petrol with which the ’plane started appears to indicate that it only contemplated a trial flight 1 to Dakar or the Azores. ; ANDERSON STARTS ON FLIGHT TO LONDON BUT DRIVEN BACK BY GALE ■ Sydney, September 6. Keith Anderson hopped off this < morning en route for London, but owing to the gale force of the head winds, returned after an hour’s Bight. He will await the abatement of tlie gale, i perhaps two or three days, before restarting on his effort to fly to London in 14 days, beating Hinkler’s record.