DANGEROUS ADVENTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 2, 3 July 1933, Page 9

DANGEROUS ADVENTURE

Undertaking one of the most trying and dangerous flights ever attempted, the squadron intends to fly the' Atlantic to Chicago and back; : Each machine will tarry two pilots, a wireless operator, and a mechanic, and every third machine a navigating officer, making a total crew of 104 in the squadron. . The outward flight will be via ireland, Labrador, and Montreal, and the return flight will be i made, aftar 15 days in the United States for overhaul, via Newfoundland, yalentia l',to Ostia, near Rome. The double crossing of the Atlantic in. itself is a great task, but the difficulties will be proportionately intensified as the number of machines is increased. The great danger of the outward journey will be dense fogs, which are likely in the northern latitudes. On the return journey a non-stop flight of 2000 miles over the Atlantic represents an obstacle "which might give pause to any leader less bold than. General Balbo. Tho machines, which, are of improved type; are those which flew to South America in 1930, also under General Balbo. They are fitted with engines developing more than 1800 h.p., and can easily take off with a load of 11$ tons, carrying 3-} tons of fuel, and allowing a margin of half a ton. for the longest hop from Bandora Sound to Valentia, without allowing for the wind, which is •expected to be favourable. The original intention was to start early last month, but delay, was oc« casioned by the ice conditions on tho toast of Labrador, which are' at least a month behind normal. Cartwright Harbour, where two Italian supply vessels are ■ stationed, was reported last month to be full of floating ice, which was -expected, however,, to disappear 'when an off-shore wind set in. :