POLAR FLIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 134, 7 May 1928, Page 7

POLAR FLIGHT

NOBILE CONTINUES TRIP.

ARRIVAL AT KING’S BAY

WILKINS REFUSES INVITATION. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association—United Service.) Received Alay 7, 8.50 a.m. OSLO, May 6. General Nobilo departed in 'tho airship Italia from Yadsoe and has arrived at King’s Bay (Spitsbergen) despite a violent head wind. Cantain Wilkins lias refused General Nobife’s invitation to accompany him on the Polar flight. VIOLENT BLIZZARD. (Australian Press Association.) VADSpE, Alay 4. Reports have been received that a violent blizzard drove over Spitzbergon, damaging the airship Italia’s hangar. There was natural disappointment among the airship’s crew. General Nobile .was wirelessly advised to postpone his departure from Vftdsoe until to-morrow so as to allow repairs to the canvas walls, which have been to.rn to ribbons. The crow of the supply ship worked all night to effect repairs. • Meanwhile, the weather toward the north has taken a dismal change lor the worse, with storms sweeping from west to east and rain and frost. WILKINS TO VISIT BERLIN. * (Australian Press Association.) BERLIN, Alay 4. Captain Wilkins and Lieutenant Eielson sent a message from King’s Bay accepting an invitation to visit BerlinAUSTRALIAN FLIGHT. SAIITH LEAVING AIAY T 20. (United Service.) Received Alay 7, 9.10 a.m.x SAN FRANCISCO, Alay 6. Captain Kingsford Smith has tentatively fixed Alay 00 as the date of departure for Australia. The Southern Cross made splendid time returning here from Santa Barbara with six aboard. Air C. T. Ulum has definitely been selected as Captain Smith’s only companion for the long flight.

Captain Kingsford Smith and Mr C. T. Ulm arrived in the United States as long ago as June, 1927, to arrange for their Pacific flight. They purchased a Fokker monoplane and were engaged for a long time in preparations for the adventure. In January is was announced that the plans had been abandoned owing to a lack of funds. Tho route mapped out for the coming flight in tho Southern Cross is from San Francisco to Honolulu (2414 miles), then to Suva (3165 miles), and from there to Brisbane (1792 miles).

ANOTHER TRIP WESTWARD

ATLANTIC CROSSING

(Australian Press Association.) LONDON, Alay 4

Captain Courtney has decided to make his westward trans-Atlantic attempt to r New York this month from Plymouth. The machine is an all-metal flyingboat of German design with British Dormier-Napier engines totalling one thousand horse-power. The machine was constructed in Italy, where it is at present being tested.

’PLANE LIKE A BIRD,

INVENTOR KILLED IN TEST,

(Australian Press Association.) NEW YORK, May 4

Mr Leonard Bouncy, who spent six months studying the common seagull and afterwards built on aeroplane as nearly as possible like the bird, to-day gave his life for liis ideal. His machine differed in almost every way from the accepted aeroplane theory. It was bird-like in appearance, with pinions in place of wings. v It was openly predicted that the invention would never fl.v, but Mr Bonney tried it at the Curtiss Field to-day. Ho raised it from the ground and flew at a. terrific speed for half a mile; then, as lie waved his hand derisively at the onlookers, the odd-looking craft nose-dived straight down to the ground,' and was completely smashed. 'Mr Bonney was killed.

BENTLEY REACHES ENGLAND. (Australian Press Association). * LONDON. May 5. Lieutenant Bentley and Mrs Bentley have arrived from Capetown on tlieir honeymoon. LADY HEATH AT TUNIS. (Australian Press Association. —United Service). LONDON, May 5. Lady Heath has arrived at Tunis (a French pro tec to rate of North .Africa) from Tripoli. The aeroplane was slightly damaged in landing. JAPANESE ’PLANE CRASHES. (Australian Press Association). TOKIO, May 5. The first passenger aeroplane built by Japan crashed on its trial trip. Eight were killed. PLUNGE INTO LAKE. (Australian Press Association.) VANCOUVER, May o. A message from Brantford, Ontario, states that John R-osencrans and James Latey, of Buffalo, United States, were instantly killed when a biplane plunged into Lake Erie. A terrific explosion reduced the ’plane 1 to matchwood. ACCIDENTS IN UNITED STATES. (Australian Press Association). WASHINGTON, May 5. Mr C. 1). Wilbur, Secretary.of the Navy, has appointed a special investiin an effort to reduce naval air accidents, 182 of which have occurred during the, past nine months and cost 27 lives. v CANADIAN AERIAL DERBY (Australian Press Association). VANCOUVER. May 5. An Aerial Derby, for Canadian airmen only, is being planned for September. The route will he from Windsor (Ontario) to San Francisco.