A STIRRING STORY

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 70, 23 March 1920, Page 7

A STIRRING STORY

STRUGGLE AGAINST AERIAL FREAKS

TWO MACHINES WRECKED,

(UNITES PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COI'XRIOET.)

(KEUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

(Received March 23, 11.30 a.m.)

CAPETOWN, 22nd March,

The official log of Colonel Van Ryneveld shows that his total flying time was 109£ hours. He left Cairo on 10th February, but a leak in the radiator obliged him to make a forced landing in the dark, and the machine was irreparably damaged; The engines were intact, and were conveyed to Cairo and refitted to a new machine; and the flight was resumed on the 22nd. At Khartum leaks were discovered in ■ the waterjackets, and the cylinders had to be changed. On the stage from Khartum to Moogalla the aviators encountered the most extraordinary experience of their trip. At one time they lost height to the extent of about 1500 ft in little more than a minute, and at another they had a sudden drop of 2Coo£t. This they attributed to passing alternately over large patches of burnt and unburnt grass country.. Flying Across. Uganda, they encountered "dust-devils," some of which rose as high as EODOft.

They were forced to land at Shirati by engine troubles due to the climatic conditions. After leaving Abercorn, 35C0 feet above sea. level, where they discarded everything indispensable in order to rise easily, they had an anxious time on the way to Ndola. Owing to an interruption in the petrol supply, the machine gradually lost height' while flying over the denss bush. Matters were black, but owing to the loss of weight through the consumption of petrol, a. level course was*-maintained to Ndola. Bulawayo was eventually reached. When they were leaving on sth March, the machine failed' to rise in a "dead" patch of air, and was completely wrecked. The Union aeroplane "Voortrekker" was sent to Bulawayo. and the aviators resumed the flight ta-.Capetown. On the way they encountered a t'hunde'.'stown, which badly chipped the propeljer, and completely tore off the binding. The propeller wts replaced and the journey was comweted.