JEAN BATTEN’S PROGRESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1935, Page 7

JEAN BATTEN’S PROGRESS

RECORD WITHIN GRASP

LAST HOUR DISAPPOINTMENT (BT CABLE —PBEBS ABSW.—OOPXBIfiOT.) ROME, April 25.. Jean Batten is jubilant at the prospect of making a record. She said: ‘.‘l feel fine. I hope to reach London tomorrow evening. I had anxious flying moments over the Appeiiines, when,the engine fired badly, owing to magento trouble. The mountains looked horribly rough. I was very thankful to reach Foggia aerodrome. • The flight atfer that was without trouble, except fcr terrific head winds.” \ LATER., Jean Batten started for “.England, and has arrived at Marseilles. i A FURTHER DELAY.; (Recd. April 27, 11 a.m.) MARSEILLES, April 26.' Jean Batten was delayed/by. a punctured tyre when about to take off. . Meanwhile ..bad' weather-reports are arriving. . • - . '’ : ; *.* She declared that .she is s .disappointed. She intended ito^Hy:'-to Lyons, hoping to reach Paris tonight, but magneto trouble then developed and, as a result, she is unlikely to start before to-morrow. , DARING EXPERIMENT. (Received April 27, Noon.) ’ MOSCOW, April 26. - With artificial wings, made of aeroplane fabric, attached to his arms and legs, a parachutist named Kharakhorov, ascended 9,000 feet in an aeroplane, then launched himself into space. He swiftly covered 1350 yards horizontally, before plunging into an Irrecoverable tail spin. He opened his parachute and landed safely. R.A.F. FLIGHT. RUGBY,' April 25. The Royal Air Force flignt ,to the Cape, in which four troop carriers are engaged, left Cairo this morning, bn the first stage of the journey. RECIPROCITY. RUGBY, April 25. Germany and Poland have joined the international scheme whereby reciprocal privileges are granted to private aeroplane owners and amateur pilots on foreign tours, relieving them of landing hangar fees, etc. Britain, Austria, Hungary, Sweden, . Italy, Roumania, Japan and other countries are joining in this exchange of hospitality.

LONDON-BRINDISI MAILS. , LONDON, April 26. The Australian Press Associatipn learns that the London-Brindisi .service will shortly commence taking the outward Australian mail, reducing the time to Brisbane to llj days, enabling later posting from London. T£e service will not carry inward mails from Australia, as departures frqm Brindisi do not connect with the Europe-bound machines. TASMAN FLIGHT. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 26. The first trans-Tasman freight flight from Australia to New Zealand will be made by Sir C. Kingsford Smith on May 14, the Southern Cross landing at New Plymouth next morning. There is a possibility that the “Faith in Australia” will accompany the "Southern Cross.” This information was received today Mr S. E. Nielson, who is handling the arrangements at the New Zealand end. Negotiations for freight and plans for the flight have been in progress for two months. It is understood the Southern Cross will return immediately to Australia. This will make the seventh. and eighth trips across the Tasman by the famous aeroplane.