ACROSS ATLANTIC

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10393, 10 May 1927, Page 5

ACROSS ATLANTIC

NUNGESSER HOPS OFF FROM CHERBOURG

EXCEPTIONALLY FAVOR A BLE CONDITIONS

(United Press Assn.— Copyright.) LONDON, May 8. __ Captain Nungesser hopped off from Cherbourg on his flight to New York at 10 o’clock this morning. Dramatic thrills accompanied the start — on which they decided last night—amid a fierce thunderstorm, meteorological experts declaring that the storm was local, and that- such favorable conditions, were unlikely again. There was a following wind for 1500 miles, but it was less favorable in the neighbourhood of Newfoundland, thereafter improving. Captain Nungesser and Captain Coli, his navigator, shook hands on the decision and went off to snatch a few hours’ sleep. Meanwhile, the Goliath Levass sur Lorraie plane, named “Oshean Blanc” the latest French, naval type, was finally tested and loaded at Le Bourget. Captain Nungesser and Captain Coli arrived at dawn. The latter admitted that he. had not closed his eyes, but the former slept well'. A crowd of air notables witnessed the start, and wished the aviators Godspeed.—A. and N.Z.C.A. LONDON, May. 8. Captain Nungesser, who hopped off from Cherbourg this morning for New York, cut short the farewells, saying curtly to his assistants. “When you like.’ The engine roared and the plane qjoved slowly forward. The question uppermost in the minds of those in the crowd was whether Captain Nungesser would succeed in taking off in the heavily loaded plane, when Lieut. Fonck, with 2} tons, had crashed. The plane speeded up and the tail rose, and then fell to the ground. Captain Nungesser opened the throttle till the plane tore along the ground at a terrific pace, and the tail rose and fell. The plane was now dangerously near the trees bordering the aerodrome. Cheers broke out as the wheels were seen to he lifting. Captain Nungesser, by a superhuman effort, forced the plane up, and itsoared over the trees by a narrow margin, disappearing jn a haze. Experts sav he was travelling at 110 miles an hour when he took off, only 16 yards from the edge of the aerodrome. The route is across the Channel, over the South of Ireland, along the fifty-fourth parallel of latitude to Newfoundland, and south-west to Boston. They crossed the English Channel at a height of 1200 ft.. and hope to complete the journey in 36 hours. Nothing is expected to I te heard from them for the next 24 hours beyond meagre signals from ships in midocean.

NO WORD FROM NUNGESSOR. ANXIETY IN AMERICA. (Received May 9 9.30 p.m.; , * NEW YORK, May 9. With no word received from the airmail Nungessor particular anxieev is being felt for his safety, due to the United States Weather Bureau report of a storm over a thousand miles area in mid-Atlantic, which he must cross. A headwind from 25 to 27 miles an hour is prevailing off the Newfoundland coast, and this it is believed will reach 30 miles an hour by the time Nungessor is expected to be due to reach the American shore, between two and six o’clock on Monday morning, and it is feared he will encounter the most adverse conditions before then.-—A.N.Z.C.A.