AMERICANS HOP OFF.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 July 1938, Page 5

AMERICANS HOP OFF.

ROUND THE WORLD IN FOUR DAYS. FIRST STAGE ACROSS ATLANTIC. (By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright) NEW YORK, July 10. Howard Hughes took off at 5.-0 p.m, for Paris on a non-stop flight. He hopes to complete the trip in 22 hours. He will probably continue from Paris in an attempt to fly round the world in four days, which would bo three days faster than Wiley Post’s flight in Iff’;.!. Hr Hughes is piloting a twin-motored Lockheed Plying Laboratory christened “New York World Pair, 1959.” lie carries invitations to aero clubs throughout the world to participate in the fair. There is a crew of four.

The father is favourable, and the wind is from the south-west, promising a tail wind on the Great Circle route.

If Mr. Hughes proceeds from Haris he expects to stop at -Moscow and two biberiau refuelling points, Fairbanks, Alaska, and Edmondtoa, Alberta. Two factors may end the flight at Hans—namely, the nature of the weather reports received there, and the final decision of one European country, which thus far has refused permission for the ’plane to cross its territory, it is reported, but without confirmation, that inis is Germany.

.Air. Hugues slept throughout lire day m preparation lor the Right while meciiamcs replaced pittou cylinders ami laulty magnetos. Mr, Hughes previously hoped to lake oil earlier in the day due to perfect weather round the world.'

At dU-minute intervals it is planned to broadcast the ’plane’s position and progress ami scientific data. The radio equipment is the most .elaborate ever used on such a llight. The instruments include three transmitters and two radio compasses built especially for the llight. Radio operations on most flights are limited to three wavelengths, but Mr. Hughes is equipped to use voice or code on 17 wavelengths.

The monoplane has a wing-span of (id feet, a capacity of 17112 gallons of petrol and I2U gallons of oil, a speed of 250 miles an hour and a Hying range oi -1700 miles.

, i \ WILL HE FUEL RDNNiNjt SHORT ’PLANE OVERLOADED Received Monday,, 8.17 p.ni. NEW YORK, July 10. The aviator, Howard T /tghes, at 11.20 p.m. (EastenJ Standard Time) had reached t® northern end of Cape Breton Island, seven miles from New York. He reported fine weather, hut Cape Race (Newfoundland) reported a thick fog out to sea. A later message stated that Hughes sent a radio message at 2.30 a.m., when 1400 miles out, saying he seriously doubted his ability to reach Paris due to heavy petrol consumption. He estimated his present rate would get him only three-fourths of the way and he was attempting to reach land. Hughes explained that the unexpectedly heavy fuel consumption was due to the heavy load and the high temperature. Although the ’plane’s maximum capacity is listed as 17,000 pounds, Hughes took off with 25,000 pounds. His message said: “I am decreasing the horse-power gradually. All I can do is to hope to get there.”

Plight headquarters here succeeded in making contact with the 'plane again at 5.10 a.m., hut static prevented the reception of any coherent message.

Headquarters said their charts indicated that Hughes was then 600 miles out over the Atlantic and they were of opinion that he would reach Paris due to lightening of the fuel load.

NEARING- IRISH COAST Received Tuesday, 1.39 a.m. NEW YORK. July 11. Contact was re-established at 5.25 a.m. when Hughes reported his position as latitude 53 30 north, longitude 33 10 west, which is approximately the half-way mark. 2000 miles from New York, and 900 miles from the Irish coast. A 15 mile tail wind was aiding the speed which was then 299 miles an hour. He is extremely hopeful of reaching Paris. ARRIVES AT PARIS. FLIGHT TAKES 16 HOURS 31 MINUTES. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) PARIS, July 11. The aviator, Howard Hughes, landed at Le Bourget at 4.51 p.m. His time from New York to Paris was 16 hours 31 minutes. This time compares with Colonel Lindbergh’s solo flight of 33 hours 30 minutes, the only previous New York to Paris non-stop flight.