PACIFIC AIR SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1927, Page 5

PACIFIC AIR SERVICE

NEW ZEALAND AND ISLANDS SIR A. COBHAM’S STATEMENT (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, August 31. Sir A. Cobham states that he and Mr Graham White, on behalf of a New Zealand syndicate, is assisting in the organisation of a permanent air service for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The service is to start in 1928, but plans are not yet complete. A stoutly-designed all metal flying boat of between 800 and 1000 horsepower, accommodating 12 passengers, with mails and baggage, will probably form the nucleus of the fleet.

Concerning the report that two Wellington airmen propose a flight to Australia, Sir A. Cobham said that any ordinary machine should negotiate such a short journey. Enthusiasts should concentrate on the practical side of linking up the Pacific Islands with a regular service. Before this was possible, however, routes must be surveyed. It was problematical whether it would be a commercial proposition, but the prospects were bright. He was satisfied that he had found a suitable type of machine which had the benefit of the experience of recent long distance flights. DANNEVIRKE EXPLANATION (Per Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, Sept. 1. A reference made by Sir A. Cobham in a cable message to-day, regarding trans-Tasman flight by two Welling ton airmen is based on newspaper rumours, which at the moment are not justified. i Gentlemen in Dannevirke actively connected with the venture, say that until tlvir financial arrangements are coinpie) ed, they have nothing to say beyond the fact that the newspapers have no authority at present. The proposed venture is being largely organised from Dannevirke, and if it successfully develops, full details will be given. At present those responsible are reticent.

ENGLAND TO CANADA.

LONDON, August 30.

Hamilton and Mindun have set out on their flight to Ottawa. Their departure was surprising, as it was given out last night that the Atlantic weather, would be unfavourable for the next two or three days. Even more surprising was the Princess Lowenstein Wertheim’s decision to go. She is financially helping the venture. She said that she did not know a passenger was being taken. A Fokker Jupitor monoplane, specially constructed in Amsterdam, is being used.

If Hamilton’s flight is successful, Levine says that he will abandon his Atlantic flight, and will attempt a long distance endurance record flight eastwards. A DRAMATIC SEND-OFF. LONDON, August 31. Scenes at the commencement of the Atlantic flight were most dramatic. Hamilton and Minchin did not sleep a wink all night. With the dawn came a strong easterly wind. The airmen gathered in the ghostly mist, shook their heads, and gave the verdict it was impossible to take off under such conditions, but Hamilton was determined, jumped into a waiting car, and made a tour of inspection of the eastward section of the aerodrome. Watchers on Salisbury Plain saw the great headlights sweeping the ground. Hamilton returned, consulted Minchin, and decided to take off in another direction. Thereupon the monoplane was man-handled across country by forty men. While this was occurring, Princess Lowenstein arrived in a large limousine, accompahied by the Archbishop of Cardiff and three priests. The Princess left her London home shortly after midnight, and picked up the Archbishop. When preparations were complete, she stood in the shelter of the wing. In the half-light, the Archbishop blessed the airplane, whereupon the Princess kneeled and kissed the episcopal ring. The Prelate raised his hand and gave a blessing, adding: “I will not forget topray for you.” Then he placed his hands on the airmen’s shoulders, shaking each affectionately. The Princess stepped to her seat in the wickercane chair among the luggage. The airplane ran a thousand yards for several anxious moments, narrowly missing an ambulance, and then a line of fir trees.

“LAWLESS" LEVINE.

MILLIONAIRE IRRESPONSIBLE.-

LONDON, August 30.

Flying circles here are full of admiration at the whimsical American millionaire Levine, who made such a lucky offhand lone flight from Paris. Levine has appointed Captain Hinchcliffe as pilot for a return trip across the Atlantic. He made the statement that he would fly the Atlantic both ways, but Paris hints that he may yet-be checked. Mrs Levine, after paying Levine’s French pilot, Drouhin, £BOO, in satisfaction of his claims for the breach of contract, went full speed to London in an attempt to persuade her husband not fo venture a return flight, but Levine is unlikely to be dissuaded if the weather reports forecast a reasonable. chance. . He is inundated with offers to pilot his machine, and thinks the’English good sports. Hinchcliffe is one of the crack pilots of Britain, and has been flying since 1913. fie lost an eye in air combat in the war. Levine contravened countless international flying laws. He was uncertificated, did not pay Customs dues had not a passport. These points have been reported to the French Government. While making an actual test flight at Le Bourget, he was within the law, but as soon as he crossed the three mile boundary he was an offender, and hence the attempted chase by a French military plane. Again, he left Paris without a log book and clearance papers, and omitted to pass the Customs. Continuing his lawless journey to England, he proceeded to break the law wholesale.

His machine was not equipped with wireless, and was required to circle the coast station at a sufficiently low altitude to be recognised. He landed in England without a passport.

Mrs Levine arrived from Parisi bringing her husband’s hat, which he left behind, thrilled by his exploit. She says: “Heaven knows how he did it. Nobody else does. I think no one has had such a hectic life as I since Charles decided to become an airman. Fancy seeing your husband stroll for a walk in the morning, and then in the afternoon hear him call on the telephone: “Hullo, I’m in London. Come right over.”

ROUND THE WORLD. BELGRADE, August 31. The “Pride of Detroit” left here for Constantinople at 4.45 p.m. CONSTANTINOPLE, August 31. Brock and Schlee have arrived. REDFERN SIGHTED. KINGSTON (Jamaica), August 31. The Norwegian steamer Christian Krohg, reported sighting the Redfern 24 hours after the latter departed from Brunswick. The vessel exchanged signals with Redfern, after which the flier pointed the plane in the direction of land, as the ship indicated it and continued the flight. The ship’s log gives the position 165 miles north of the nearest point on the Venezuelan coast.

PARACHUTE TRAGEDY.

LONDON, August 30

While Observer Lothian and Flying Officer Hudson were at a height of a thousand feet in a De Haviland machine at Farnborough, Lothian was observed to crawl on to the fuselage in readiness for a parachute drop. Instead, however of clearing the machine, the parachute became caught in the tail of the plane, and Lothian dangled in midair, suspended from waist straps. He attempted repeatedly to climb the hanging parachute. The pilot continually corrected the course of the plane, the tail of which was useless, and managed to keep a balance, despite the dead weight. Hudson made a wonderful landing, almost a vertical one, stopping immediately., Lothian was found unqonscious. He suffered from a fractured skull, and an injured spine. He died at the hospital. PILOT INCINERATED. PARIS, August 31. Two aeroplanes collided and telescoped in mid-air at Petit Clamart. One fell to the earth like a stone, struck an electric cable and burst into flames. The pilot was incinerated. The other, in spite of a crushed wing, landed safely.

’PLANE STRIKES GLACIER.

(“Times” Service.)

LONDON, August 31.

The “Times’s” Innsbruk correspondent says:—Alpine guides seeking a Jugo-Slav military plane, which disappeared while flying over the Arlberg Mountains in a blizzard on August 27,' found the demolished plane on a glacier. Apparently, it hit the face of the mountain. The pilot was frostbitten, suffering from compound fractures of the legs, but was alive, while his companion was frozen to death in seeking help.

ALTITUDE RECORD.

AIRMAN’S DREADFUL ORDEAL.

PARIS, August 20.

The airman, Callizo, gives a graphic description of his agony at the altitude of his record flight namely 42,900 ft. He says that at the height of thirty thousand feet, the sky is so blue that the glare is insupportable. The sense of utter isolation is appalling. His machine was then vibrating terribly. It Was a time when the least error would be fatal. Yet he barely had the strength to avoid a mistake. His ears were buzzing and his arms and legs were prickling. He knew the sign was that of approaching paralysis. The machine seemed to be dreamlike, and to be balancing itself. He never heard the engine. When at last, he began to descend, it was getting dark. It was not until he was down at sixteen thousand feet again, that he realised he was safe. Then, when only half unconscious, he mechanically aimed for Le Bourget, and he landed .anyhow. It was the luckiest thing for him to escape with his life. The airman concluded that he now understands why the Everest expedition had failed.