TASMAN FLIGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1927, Page 7

TASMAN FLIGHT

STOPPED BY AUSTRALIA MUST USE SEA-PLANE (Per Press Association.) • AUCKLAND, Sept. 12. News was received in Auckland over the week-end that the flight of Lieut. K. M. Frewen, from Hobart to Bluff, reported to have been arrange! for to-day, had been postponed. It is understood that the Australian civil aviation authorities refuse to allow any flight except in a seaplane. Frewen was to use a Bristol fighter. LEVINE’S DETERMINATION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable AssociationLONDON, Sept. 11. Owing to the recent losses of Atlantic fliers, strong pressure is being brought to bear on Levine to abandon his proposed flight. A wide press controversy is also in progress on the question whether it is worth while to undertake the risks. Levine replies that isomebody has got to be pioneers to risk or lose their lives. “I say emphatically it is worth while. My heart is set on going to America and if the weather gives half a chance we will go.” Mr H. Day (Labour) will ask Mr Baldwin on the resumption of Parliament if the Premier will, in view of the unnecessary risk to life, consider the introduction of legislation to prohibit financing oi' participating in flights, with the object of crossing the Atlantic from Britain. “OLD GLORY” REPORT. VANCOUVER, September 9. The Government agent, Mr Harvey, at Halifax, has been notified by Ottawa that the aeroplane Old Glory has been sighted 400 miles east of St. John’s. Vessels have been instructed to render it assistance. A report that Old Glory was sighted is unconfirmed. The message was sent to Halifax simply to arrange for Canadian participation in the search for the lost 'plane. PRIDE OF DETROIT.

TOKIO, September 11. The aeroplane, Pride of Detroit, was forced to land at Omura near Nagasaki, owing to shortage of petrol, due to her going out of her course. AUSTRALIAN’S ’PLANE. NEW YORK, September 10. It is understood that Mr. Smith has decided to employ only an amphibian or seaplane for the Australian flight, and may try to obtain Sikorsky’s flying boat for this purpose. It is equipped with three special Wright whirlwind motors, but if he fails in this, he will employ the Fokker used by Wilkins during the Arctic explorations. ROOKE ABANDONS FLIGHT. (A.P.A. & Sun.) DELHI, September 11. Rooke has abandoned the flight to Australia, owing to difficulties and delays in securing a new machine. RUSSIA’S GREAT FORCE. ’ LONDON, September 11. Lord Thompson, in an article in the “Observer,” says: It is curious and significant that Russia, in addition to creating a formidable, air force, perceives more clearly than any other government the essentials of air power. It is using State machinery to instil the air sense into Russians, making the study of aviation compulsory in schools, and facilitating adult flying as a pastime. The Ukraine alone has 4,662 aeronautical societies, with a membership of 360,000. Two other aviation societies, with a united membership of two millions, cover nineteen aero clubs and twelve hundred libararies. The air force has fifteen hundred military aircraft. A national industry has been founded, building machines for the Russians successfully, and specialising in all metal machines constructed of a new alloy, koltchou galuminium, which has a tensile strength of eighty-five hundred pounds to the square inch. Russia, a few years hence, may control Asiatic air routes eastward. Italy, it is reported, intends to construct 2800 military aircraft by 1930. If Moscow makes the Russian peasants air-minded, Italy, France and Germany together would be unequal to Russia’s air power. BALLOON RACE NEW YORK, Sept. 11. An international balloon race started from Detroit on Saturday, in the direction of the Atlantic. Spain, England, and. Switzerland entered one each, Italy, France and Belgium two, and United States and Germany three.