ALTITUDE RECORD CLAIMED

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 October 1933, Page 5

ALTITUDE RECORD CLAIMED

FRENCH AIRMAN’S FLIGHT BRITISH EFFORT BEATEN (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) PARIS, Sept. 28. Gustav Lemoine, flying an 800 horsepower Poetz aeroplane, claims to ‘have ascended 4-5,275 feet-, beating Captain C I’. Unwin’s record of 43,971 feet. Before the record is recognised it must be considered and ratified by the International Aeronautical Federation. If this comes 1 about, from the proud position of holding the three major world air records, in February last, Great Britain will find -herself without any. When Squadron-Leader Gayford and Flight-Lieutenant Nicholette landed their Fairy Long Range monoplane at Walvis Bay, after flying non-stop to London a few months ago, Britain achieved the unique distinction of holding the world’s air records for speed, altitude, and distance, at the same time. The first of these to vanish was the -speed record, which was beaten by Warrant-Officer Angella, of Italy. Then Codos and Robida flew from New York to Syria, non-stop, and took the longrange record back to France. Lemoine now appears to have annexed the altitude record of France and robbed British aviation of the last of its trio of accomplishments. The following table shows 1 the British records compared with the new records:

Present records Great Britain Hpeed ... 423 m.p.h. (Italy) 407.5 m.p.h Distance 5015 miles (Prance) 5309 miles Altitude 45,275 feet (Prance) 43,971 feet