RISKS OF THE AIR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 254, 23 September 1933, Page 7

RISKS OF THE AIR

EMPIRE MAIL ROUTE. CRITICISM OF SPECIFICATIONS.: GERMAN ’PLANE’S EXPERIENCE. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received September 23, 10.50 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 22. Air-Commander John Chamier, Director of Aviation Development, while appreciating the stringent provision in the tenders against foreign participation, criticises the relatively low minimum speeds specified for the air mail contracts. He regrets that no preference is expressed in the tenders for seaplanes and flying boats between Singapore and Darwin, which reduce the risks and dangers under tropical conditions and forced descents to sea.

He instances the Bremen’s mail plane’s landing in the Channel last night as an example of tin's kind of thing. The ’plane, 11111011 was missing after being catapulted from the German liner Bremen, reached Southampton safely. The pilot explained that lie lost his bearings after flying 620 miles. He landed in a rough sea last night beside a French fishing, boat, to which he moored his ’plane in mid-Channel. When the sea quietened he decided to take off again, though he had only an hour’s petrol. EARLIER REPORTS. ANXIETY AROUSED. SEARCHING THE CHANNEL. (British Official Wireless.) Received September 23. 11.45 a.m. RUGBY, Sept. 22. Considerable anxiety was felt for the fate of the seaplane which ivas catapulted yesterday from the German liner Bremen when it was 550 miles from Southampton. The seaplane, which was carrying mails, had a German pilot, Herr Grunering, who last night sent out a wireless message that he was running short of petrol and might have to come down. At the time he was over the Channel, south of the Isle of Wight. The authorities immediately took emergency measures and all shipping and coastguards were warned and lifeboats notified. The British destroyer Sardony X left Portsmouth and the minesweeper Dunoon was sent from Portland to join in the search. This morning a further destroyer was sent out. The seaplane mail service from the liners Bremen and Europa has been in existence for a year. The machines are usually launched about 500 miles out and bring the mails to Southampton. ATTACK ON MOLLISON’S RECORD. An attack on Mr J. A. Mollison’s record for a flight from Australia to England will be made shortly by Fly-ing-Officer H. D. Gilman,, of the Royal Air Force, who is negotiating for the purchase of a machine that should enable him to cover the distance in six days. He intends the flight to be a preliminary t-o taking part in the flying race to Melbourne on the occasion of the centenary celebrations. Flying-Officer Gilman was bom m Sydney and trained at Duntroon. He was appointed to the New Zealand Staff Corps, and later went to England, where he was given a commission in the Flying Corps.