ATLANTIC FLIGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 October 1928, Page 7

ATLANTIC FLIGHT

VENTURE IN GYPSY MOTH. LONDON, September 19. If courage and audacity count for anything, it looks as if all previous Atlantic flights are to be eclipsed. The Daily News states that a Gypsy Moth biplane, only 26ft. from wing to wing tip and weighing Bcwt.—practically an aerial sports car—is being secretly prepared at Stag Lane aerodrome for shipment to Newfoundland, the intention of the owner being- to fly to Ireland, a distance of 1900 miles. The lone figure in this daring enter - prise is to be Lieutenant-Commander H. C. Macdonald, who recently toured France, Egypt, Palestine, Irak and Syria after eight hours of solo flying. It is his intentipn to try to make the Atlantic flight some time in October. The extreme flange of the machine is stated to be 35 hours, which suffices for a distance of 3500 miles, with a cruising speed of 100 miles an hour and a maximum of 120 miles. One hundred gallons of petrol will require to be carried for the trip. This will preclude the installation of wireless equipment. Seaplane floats have not been fitted because it is recognised that these would be useless if the plane were forced down on the Atlantic rollers. ’ The De Havilland Gypsy Moth differs little in size and design from the famous Cirrus machine, the lines 'of which have become familiar to aviation experts all over the world. The main new features are the split un- *> dercarriage and a. tailskid of different and improved design. The new un- < dercarriage has a wider track and longer shock absorbers. The Gypsy Moth takes its name from the Gypsy engine, which gives a top speed of about 100 miles an hour, an increase of 10 miles. Lieutenant Hope, winner of the King’s Cup race around . Britain, flew in a Gypsy Moth. The output of the Gypsy enginefour cylinders and air-cooled —is 104 horse-power, and it is claimed that it gives the machine a performance unique among light aeroplanes for speed, rate of climb, angle of climb, ■ and economy.

Instead of the usual tailskid a steerable wheel is fitted, with an automatic brake. This innovation makes for easy handling with folded wings. The Gypsy Moth is fitted with automatic safety slots, which prevent spinning. LINDBERGH GREATLY DARING. ESCAPE FROM A COLLISION. LOS ANGELES, September 19. Colonel Charles Lindbergh, . the famous American flier, was leading the Army’s famous “Three Musketeers” in formation and stunt flying when he narrowly escaped death. , While the pilots were demonstrating the “ground strafe,” in which three planes dived at a rate of 180 miles an hour, a Navy plane from the ground Hew directly in their path, and disaster for all four planes loomed. Colonel Lindbergh proved his resourcefulness in the face of danger. In an instant he pulled out of the dive, his two companions following. All three planes whizzed by the Navy plane, which was still climbing at a mile a minute, passing with only a few feet to spare. Colonel Lindbergh had volunteered to take the place of Lieutenant Williams, who was fatally injured a few days ago, as the third member of the “Musketeers.” Later Colonel Lindbergh won roars of applause with his “Musketeer” companions, Lieutenants Cornelius and Woodring. Leading both into the blue heights in V formation, he nose-dived, with the pair close at his heels. He then led the V into loop after loop, doing ban-el rolls and other death-defy-ing “stunts.” Subsequently all three led a pursuit group of planes in battleiflying formation, demonstrating diving attacks. \