AVIATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 October 1925, Page 11

AVIATION.

CAN CONQUER THE WORLD.

ARCTIC, AVIATOR’S VIEWS

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15. Recounting the MacMillan expedition experiences before the Cloofidge Air Inquiry, Lieut. Byrd declared that aeroplanes were capable of conquering any part of the world. With more time and a little better season the unexplored regions of the polar seas could be reached by aeroplanes easily. If it had accomplished nothing else, the expedition had established that the United States had nothing to fear fflom an air attack via'-the Polar regions. Replying to The charges of General Mitchell, namely, that the MacMillan ’planes were built for the tropics and were unsuited to polar conditions, Lieut. Byrd said his amphibions were undoubtedly the best for the work, the circumstances requiring both wheels and boats.

He recommended the use of an airship in the event -of another flight, starting from Spitzbergen, but stated that ’planes were more suitable, because they afforded an opportunity to land and - explore regions which airships were unable to accomplish.

’PLANE FROM AIRSHIP. LIKE FLYING ACROBAT. LONDON, Oct. 15. In connection with the tests' of launching an aeroplane from an airship, a supplementary message states: — When the machine at a height of 4000 feet flew towards R 33 it resembled a flying acrobat attempting to catch a flying trapeze. When unhooked, the machine w r as observed to shoot upwards alarmingly. A crash appeared imminent, but ithe machine was immediately righted. The pilot had engaged successfully, but in doing so his propellor had' struck the airship supports, splintering into matchwood. The pilots successfully unhooked, with only the stump) of a propellor, and made a long glide, landing perfectly at the aerodrome. Experts declare that the experiment >vhs very successful, despite the mishap, and will he repeated.