HOPE ABANDONED

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 March 1928, Page 5

HOPE ABANDONED

TRANSATLANTIC FLIERS. FOOIJHARDY FLIGHTS. PROTESTS AGAINST THEM. by cable -press association—copy rich >. LONDON, March 15. England has practically abandoned hope "for the safety of the Trans-At-lantic flyers. Scores of false alarms from America have sustained a faint hope, but as each is unsubstantiated the Press and the public are agreed tliat the Atlantic has claimed more victims. Lord Inchcape, in reply from Egypt, as to the query whether he was aware if his daughter was participating in the flight cabled : “No knowledge whatever of the flight.’’ The opinion in England is that Britain cannot afford to lose her foremost pilots through foolhardiness. The “Daily Chrniole” says: “At the present stage of development an east to west Trans Atlantic attempt is a pure gamble with life for which the motive is mere record breaking and advertisement for the backers. Gallant and expert pilots are thus bribed to doom. They are struggling, professional men. Their career is un remunerative

and they arc attempting the quasi impossible to assure their future and their homes. The type of rich woman flier is a special problem. It is deplorable for anyone to squander the lives of the finest airmen.’’ REASONS FOB SECRECY.

The “Evening Standard’s” correspondent reveals the full story of the reason for the secrecy about the Hinoh-cliffe-Maekay flighc-. He says Miss Mackay was greatly fascinated by the attempts to fly the Atlantic and was anxious to support some such venture financially. She always wanted to go herself and frequently said she was read}’ to provide the money required, but her greatest desire was that her father, Lord Inchcape, should not be aware of her intention for fear lie would ban the project and hold up the money. She therefore adopted a plan by whit-o the money was drawn in a friend’s name.

She applied to Imperial Airways for the service of a pilot and shortly afterwards she met Hinchcliffe, who agreed to her plans. She arranged that Hinchcliffe should go to America to purchase a machine at a cost of £-5000. Hinchcliffe also favoured secrecy from the point of view that it would be far more remunerative if the attempt were shrouded in mystery. Miss Mackay engaged Hinchcliffe at a salary of £IOO per month, but naturally desired to get as much financial return as possible from the venture.

. A. friend states that Miss Mapkav was most determined to participate and an elaborate scheme was arranged by which it should be thought that Sindlair was accompanying Hinchcliffe, though it was never intended 'he should. The idea was that on arrival in America “Sinclair” should jump from the machine and reveal himself, to the amazement of the world, as Elsie Mackay.