AVIATION

Evening Star, Issue 21433, 9 June 1933, Page 7

AVIATION

THE MOLLISONS TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT

MACHINE CRASHES AT START

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, June 8. The Mollisons attempted to start on the first direct fight from London to New York at 5.39 a.m., but bad travelled only 100yds when the machine toppled over. Fire engines, an ambulance, and members of sho crowd dashed across the aerodrome, but the- ambulance reported that the Mollisons were unhurt.

It appears that tho aeroplane, tho Seafarer, had not risen from the ground when a “ V ” strutt of the undercarriage collapsed as a result of the machine striking a hump. Both of tho under wings were broken, the propeller was bent, and the engines were torn away. The Mollisons were terribly despondent when they left tho plane. Mrs Mollison said: “It is terrible, I am very disappointed.” Her husband just pointed to the machine. Words seemed to fail him. Mechanics immediately began to effect repairs. The mishap was apparently due to tho tremendous load of approximately three tons.

DETERMINED TO START AGAIN,

LONDON, Juno 8

Mr Mollison said that he had received favourable Atlantic reports the night before.

“Wo were off at dawn, and were glad that tho suspense was ended,” said Sirs Mollison. “Wo both realised that such a flight is a gamble, and that the chances of success are about even.” The indomitable couple regard tho upset as a mere incident, and are determined to start again as soon as possible.

MATTERN HAS FORGED LANDING

LONDON, Juno 8,

Mattorn made a forced landing at Prokopiovsk, whence an aeroplane with a mechanic and instruments is Hying to his assistance from Novo Sibirsk.

A FORTUNATE LANDING,

LONDON, Juno 8. (Received June 9, at 10.30 a.m.) A special message says: Mattern telephoned from Belovo that he was forced to land owing to gases damaging the stabiliser. Ho added that he left Omsk at 1.10 in the morning. Four hours later he began to feel queer. Nausea followed as ho caught a real whiff of fumes due to a leaky petrol pipe. Thero were only miles of tries below, and his head was spinning like a top. Ho tried tilting tho plane to get fresh air, and he was just wondering what was going to happen when ho saw a clear patch and hbaded for it, fighting the fumes. “ I'do not know how I landed,” he continued. “ I found Russians employed in a workers’ settlement besieging the plane. I crawled out and collapsed. The workers took me lo a hut, and I lay in a hunk and was terribly sick. Later I felt better and I inspected tho plane. I found that I had made a lucky landing, striking the ground with the tail of tho machine and cracking the stabiliser. The Russians sent mechanics from Novo Sibirsk, also a plane with enough steel to patch the plane. I shall make it fly to Krasnoyarsk, where it can bo, properly repaired.”