UNWISE FLIGHTS

Grey River Argus, 26 March 1928, Page 5

UNWISE FLIGHTS

OVER ATLANTIC British Warning (Received March 25 at 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 23. ‘‘l consider it most unwise to attempt to fly the Atlantic from east Io west, until we have machines of greater endurance,” declared Air Minister lloare in a speech at Birmingham. “1 do not desire to criticize that, brilliant pilot, ILinchcliffe, and his ertprageous companion, but to warn others that the risks at present are L°o great. At the same time, it would be unwise, as well as impracticable for the Government to interfere with the individual’s right to embark on such an Public opinion isi rightly jealous of any attempt to curtail the spirit of cntei"prise and adventure. ’ ’ TRANS-ATLANTIC AIR SERVICE. PARIS, March 23. The French airman, Rene Fonck, returned from America. He says that a forty million dollar company has been formed to organise a Trans-Atlantic Air Service. There will be a scries of ' floating islands every 325 miles across the Atlantic, one of which will bo completed shortly, and will bp moored two hundred miles from New York. ANOTHER AMERICAN NOTION. “INNOCENTS ABROAD” ON FLIGHT. LONDON, March 24. “Tho Innocents Abroad” will be brought up to date when a cargo of American tourists fly to Europe in a fleet of thirty aeroplanes. They will land from a steamer at Bremen, and will then fly to sixteen cities, covering 2800 miles in three weeks. Then they will hustle home. Italy’s Enterprise TUT FOR LEADING PLACE. (Times Cable.) LONDON, March 23. The Rome correspondent of “The Times” says:—ltaly possesses eighteen hundred aeroplanes, of which one thousand are usable immediately for war purposes. There were 420 constructed last. year. This statement was made by Signor Bailbo (Undersecretary for Air) in the Chamber of and civil aviation. He claimed for Deputies, when explaining an expenditure of £7,000,000 sterling for niilita’y Italy the third place in European civil aviation), (she only being surpassed by France and Germany. He added that Italy was opening five new air lines in .June, including connections with Spain, Germany and Tripoli. 'He recalled that Italy holds the height and speed records and that she aims at capturing the records f i distance and duration now held by America. VICTORIAN A6RIAL DERBY. MELBOURNE, March 25. The Victoria Aerial Derby was won by Major De Haviland, with Captain Matthews second, and L. Farmer third. Bert Hinkler participated. The time was 5 min 31 secs.