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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 82, 21 March 1919, Page 4

Having been lifted so rapidly from the region of doubt into one of assured certainty with regard to the practical aspect of loug-distance flying, we have now probably swung too far in the direction of taking the achievement of all suggested feats as being very much matter of course For instance. «e

scarcely think of possible failure in connection with the trans-Atlantic flight which the cable yesterday told us was in early contemplation under the auspices of the British Air Ministry. Yet there are very grave difficulties and dangers in the way, as was pointed out by the “Times” aeronautic correspondent six or seven weeks ago. Weather conditions, he said, would necessitate its postponement, and there may be some surprise at its attempt being made about the time of the northern vernal equinox. But he goes on to say that while there is no anxiety about the capacity of the machines, there being many which, from the point of view- of endurance, could make the voyage, still there rare other elements of difficulty that are unavoidable and uncontrollable. The start might be made from either shore in the most favourable conditions, but in mid-ocean the flying men might find themselves confronted by a very large aerial depression, the existence of which, in the present stage of meteorology, could not possibly be forecast on either side of the Atlantic. The Ministry are able to secure a certain amount of weather information from marine craft, but that is only surface observation, which is practically valueless to men who are flying at an altitude of from "ten to twelve thousand feet. Then there is the question of navigation, and there is always the speed of the wind to reckon with. This in overland flying can be gauged by “ground” observation, but there are no such points of reference when flying oversea, and it is impossible in certain conditions to ascertain how far the aircraft is drifting from her course. An aviator flying from New York to the Azores would miss the islands altogether if he were only a few- degrees out of his reckoning. It therefore needs stout hearts to undertake tho pioneer trans-Atlantic flights, but they are. and will continue to be forthcoming, as in all the nation’s needs.