OFF TO PARIS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 May 1927, Page 5

OFF TO PARIS

AMERICAN AIRMAN STARTS.

FLIGHT OVER ATLANTIC. A DARING AVIATOR, jy CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received 10.20 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK, May 20. Captain Charles Lindbergh, in a. Ryan monoplane, started from Roosevelt field at 7.52 this morning on an unaccompanied non-stop flight to France. He took off in damp, foggy weather, which cleared shortly after the start. He had ascertained that weather conditions at sea were excellent. The airman had only a sandwich to eat and two hours’ sleep since eight o’clock last n-ight, and took only concentrated food tablets tor the trip. A tremendous roar rose from the crowd, numbering thousands, when the ’plane started down the runaway. Lind berg, always recklessly daring, took off from the west end of the runaway. whence, had the ’plane failed to rise, he would have crashed into a row of buildings. As it was, he had a flight difficulty in rising, making several hops first. Five other ’planes escorted Lina*>erg from the field, including Commander Byrd in the Fokker with which he himself hopes to make the trip when tests have been completed. Lindberg was “flying blind,” as the aviators say, for the arrangement of the 'plane prevents him from seeing ahead except with periscopes, which are almost useless owing to poor visibility near the ground. He carried no wireless or other signalling device®, and only sufficient food for three days. Lindberg is 25 years of age,, and; by his daring has captured the imagination of the public more than any other American airman. He hopes to reach Paris in thirty to thirty-five hour®. — Ans, Press Assn, and “Sun.”