FLIGHT ACROSS ATLANTIC.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1819, 10 January 1913, Page 3

FLIGHT ACROSS ATLANTIC.

GRAHAME WHITE'S SCHEME. Across the Atlantic fom England to New York in 30 hours! This is the remarkable flight of which Mr Grahame White proposes to make next year. All plans for the trip are practically complete. A large hydro-aero-plane, driven by four engines of 250 h.p. each, is being designed for the journey. A smaller machine, driven by four 3a-h.p. engines, has been constructed for experimental flights. A number of trials will b# made with the larger machine, which, it is estimated, will be capable of a speed of 100 miles an hour, enabling the journey from England to America to be accomplished m 30 hours. "Nothing is impossible in aviation," said Mr Grahame White, in outlining his scheme to a London pressman. "I am confident that the Courney can be accomplished. "When you consider the wonderful strides which have been made in the art of aviation during the past two or three years, and the potentialities of the areoplane, a flight to America in less than two days is well within the bounds of possibility. Indeed, in another 10 to 15 years, the journey air may well be accomplished in I 15 hours.

"We shall, of course, test the machine fully before attempting the flight. I propose to carry six persons—two pilots, two mechanics, and two passengers. One man who is anxious to accompany me has already made a handsome offer. The machine will be constructed at Hendon. "I hope to land in New York Harbour, and doubtless our appearance there will cause some surprise. Such a flight had been talked about a good deal, in the world of aviation, and I may say that for me it has a great attraction. "I have not yet fixed on my place of departure; nor do I know what period of the year I shall select. It will depend largely on the weather. Autumn, for instance, may be more favourable than summer for the journey. It lias appeared so to me more than once when I have crossed the Atlantic. The sea in autumn has been calmer, than, say, in July. "I estimate that the experiment will cost anything from £15,000 to £20,000. The quantity of petrol which wo shall use, for instance, will be enormous. The engines will be larger than any yet designed, and I anticipate some difficulty in obtaining them. It is, of course, highly important, that, for the greater part of the journey, they should be reliable and efficient. We shall be able to dispense with one of them (should it fail us) on the last part of the journey, because the aeroplane will be lighter, owing to the expenditure of fuel. "No provision will be made for boats along the track. Such assisti ance will be unnecessary, for even if we come down on the ocean we shall be able to keep afloat and also rise again. We shall endeavour to keep in touch with liners, which will be able to obtain for us by wireless information as to the state of the weather ahead."

Mr Grahame Wright is enthusiastic about- his scheme, which would, when accomplished, pave the way for even greater feats in aviation. It would, of course, eclipse anything which has yet been accomplished by dirigibles on long journeys.