ROUND-WORLD FLIERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 July 1938, Page 3

ROUND-WORLD FLIERS

NEW YORK ACCLAIMS HUGHES CREDIT FOR DESIGNERS [BY GABLE —PBESB ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] NEW YORK, July 15. Ten years after this city staged' its remarkable reception to Colonel Lind- ; bergh, it repeated it for Howard Hughes, the American round-the-world airman. Moreover, since there are considerably more and taller skyscrapers on Broadway and Fifth Avenue now than there were 10 years ago, there were infinitely more torn bits of paper, ticker tape, etc., poured down over the heads of the aviator and his four companions, who with the Mayor (Mr F. H. La Guardia) and Mr Grover A. Whalen, president of the World’s Fair, drove in an open automobile through the principal thoroughfares, which were densely crowded with people. It was a remarkable spectacle, in the traditional New York manner. Hughes, before beginning the parade, handed journalists; an almost equally remarkable statement. The more interesting parts were as follows: —

‘‘We who did the flight are not entitled to particular credit. We are not. supermen. If credit is due to anyone. it is due to the men who designed and perfected the modern flyingmachine to its present state of efficiency.

“If wo have made a fast flight it is because many young men in the United State® went to the engineering school, worked hard at drafting tables and designed a fast aeroplane, and the navigation and radio equipment which would keep this aeroplane on its course. “I estimate that for the total trip wo travelled only 20 miles more than the shortest, distance between the points of take-off and landing. “The aeroplane is- fast because it is- the product of over 200,000 hours’ engineering efforts. Now, if this flight has done a little to show that American engineers can design and American workmanship build just as fine aeroplanes, engines, aircraft and equipment as anyone in the -world, and if it should possibly increase the sale of American aeroplanes- abroad, and thus create a few new jobs for American aircraft factories in the United States, then I shall feel well repaid.” The revised official figures show that the flight occupied 91 hours Smins lOsec. No official flying time figures were issued, but it was approximately 71 hours. FRENCH CRASH. (Recd. July 18, 8 a.m.) CHERBOURG, July 17. A six-engined seaplane, due shortly to make the first flight to Dakar, crashed in Tourlaville, while on a test flight. Nine aboard were injured and taken to the hospital, whereof two have since died. The ’plane had a. wingspan of 43 yards, it could carry 4160 gallons of petrol, and each engine was capable of 1100 horse-power.

TURKISH TRAGEDY. ANGORA, July 16. The first training aeroplane built in Turkey crashed on a. test” flight from Istanbul to Angora, killing the pilot, who designed it. EMPIRE BOATS COLLIDE. LONDON, July 17. Two Imperial Airways flying-boats, the cast-bound Corio and the westbound Cooee, collided when mooring at Sharjah (Arabia). The passengers, crews, and mails were unharmed, but the wings of the machines were damaged. A relief aeroplane has taken all the passengers and mails to Karachi. PASSENGERS TRANSFERRED. (Received July 18, 11 a.m.) KARACHI. July 17. Five passengers and mails aboard tho eastbound flying-boat Corio, were brought here by the Circe, and are continuing the journey to-morrow. Tho relief plane from Alexandria arrived at Basra and is expected at Sharjah in the- evening, taking on the westbound passengers and mails tomorrow. The colliding planes were moored alongside, when a violent gust of wind drove the wings together, causing superficial damage.

FLIGHT DURING MONSOON. (Received July 18, 11 a.m.) BOMBAY, July 17. Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Thomson Glover, British resident at Kashmir, who is ill, reached Karachi, intending to catch the Imperial Airways machine for England, which was damaged in the collision last night, but in view of the nature of his illness, he was advised to travel by sea. Consequently, he was flown with his wife from Karachi to Bombay, in a Royal Airforce plane, which made' a six hundred miles flight through monsoon weather, enabling them to embark on the Maloja. It was the first time that passengers had landed at the 1 aerodrome during a monsoon.

THREE DAYS’ SERVICE. (Recd. July 18, 2 p.m.) LONDON, July 17. The “News-Chronicle” announced that Imperial Airways have, as an objective, a three-day London-Sydney service, operative in 1941, for which the airports en route will be equipped in order to permit of regular night flying. PLANES FOR BRITAIN. (Recd. July 18, 1 p.m.) LONDON, July 17. The “Mail” says: The 200 Lockheed reconnaissance planes, which the Air Ministry ordered from the Californian company, are being fitted with 1100 horse-power Wright Cyclone engines, of the same type as Howard Hughes used in the round-world flight.

KOTARE CRASH EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY. AUCKLAND, July 18. The official inquiry into the crash of the Lockheed air liner, Kotare, at , f Mangere, on May 10, causing the death * of Commander Duthie and Second Officer Peel, commenced in the Magistrate’s Court building, to-day. Mr. W. F. Stillwell S.M., presided, and with him were Squadron-Leader Burrell and Flight-Lieutenant Allan. Counsel were Dr. N. A. Foden (Wellington) representing the Air Department. Associated with him were J. N. Buckeridge (Wellington), senior Assistant Comptroller of Aviation, and E. F. Carpenter (Wellington), Chief Inspector of Aircraft. Mr H. E. Bar- . rowclough represented Union Airways I Ltd., and Mr W. L. Wiseman, the relaI tives of Duthie. also the present manager of Union Airways, F. Maurice Clarke, and a director of the company. Mr White. Squadron Leader Olson (Hobsonville), who conducted the original inquiry, was also present. The first witness, Haddon George Smith, accountant, New Plymouth, said he visited Mangere on May 10 to see the Kotara depart. ,“T Jle ina chine had just got into the air,” he said, “when it slewed to the I right, and was heading straight for the Auckland Aero Club’s hangar. I thought it would just hit the hangar. I saw the plane climb very steeply over the hangar. It was a wonderful climb to me. and the right hand starboard propellor was not working.” He said that when the machine came in view again, it was making a sweeping circle to the right. The plane had at first wobbled, but then became steady. The onlookers were all concerned. "Witness thought a forced landing was Jo be made in the field. The machine nosed down and disappeared, and there was a rending crash. Herbert William Pennant, farmer, Mangere, who watched from an adjacent field, said he judged from the sound of the engines that something was wrong as it passed overhead, at a height of SOO feet. It was coming lower with a strong wind behind, and began to rock terribly, getting lower with each rock. Witness was one of the first to arrive, about five minutes after the crash, and all he could see were the charred bodies of the men. Roy Andrews, farm worker, corroborated the previous witness. Mr. Barrowclough asked if any expert witness was being called, regarding the suggestion that the engine was missing before it left the ground. “We feel, said Dr. Foden, “that the machine was missing practically from the start.” Dr. Foden said he did not wnsh to make any statement of his conclusions. It was his task to call evidence. Kenneth Blackwood Robinson, assistant instructor at the Auckland Aero Club, said he saw several puffs of smoke come from the machine as it came down the runway. That was the first indication he had that anything was wrong. He saw the propeller slowing down, and stop just before the machine went over the hangar. The wheels were down, when it passed out of his sight. (Proceeding).