ACROSS ATLANTIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 May 1927, Page 7

ACROSS ATLANTIC

LATE EDITION

FRENCH AVIATOR’S TRIP

COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS,

NOT' YET PRACTICABLE.

BY CABLE—PRESB ASSOCIATION —COrYKIGHT. Received 12.55 p.m. to-day. LONDON. May 5. Captain Saint Remain left the African coast on a trans-Atlantic flight to Brazil. A wireless message received later stated that he was far out to sea and was going well. He does not carry the official sanction of the French Air Ministry, because lie removed the floats. O'n the other hand, the Fanoo-Latin Association, which made itself responsible for the flight, declares that it has every confidence in h.im.

Captain Saint Remain declared before starting that he had entire confidence in his machine being without floats.

The Mathis, who accompanied him to Marseilles, withdrew because he regarded the trip as being dangerous. He was replaced by another.

Captain Mungesser expects to start on Monday. M. Bler.iot, in an interview, said that trans-Atlantic flight could only be commercially practicable by establishing three or four mid-ocean stations, where machines could land ' and replenish. “Aviation has not advanced to the stage which makes these crossings more than sporting events,*’ he said. “Distance and weather are no obstacles, hut commercial trans-Atlantic flights must he preceded by numerous- trials. The factors militating against commercial usefulness include fuel crowding out passengers, and the necessity to form a horseshoe of goods at stations-. There would have to be a number of large nowerful aeroplanes flying at a great height. These are very expensive, costing at least £IOO.OOO.