GRAF ZEPPELIN ON 5000-MILE CRUISE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6869, 26 March 1929, Page 7

GRAF ZEPPELIN ON 5000-MILE CRUISE

To Palestine and Back YOUNG WAITER WHO WOULD BE A PILOT SOUTHERN CROSS READY. United Press -Association —By Electrifl Telegraph—Copyright. Received Monday, 7 p.m. BERLIN, March, 25. News from Fricdrichshafen states that the Graf Zeppelin left at midnight. Despite strong ground winds, it quickly disappeared in the direction of Basle upon its Mediterranean tour of 5000 miles. At the last moment, a young waiter was discovered hidden in tho hangar of Graf Zeppelin. He pleaded it was his one ambition to become a pilot and he thought he might achieve his aim if he smuggled himself aboard the airship. Tho return route will be longer than the trans-Atlantic journey. The airship will carry 40 passengers, including the President and several members of the Reichstag. 1 Propellers Fitted to Southern Cross START ON THURSDAY. SYDNEY, March 25. Three now propellors will be fitted to-day to the Southern Cross, and, circumstances permitting, the flight to Wyn'dham will begin on Thursday. Naval Man’s Fortune COMMANDER MACDONALD, ' WHO DIED IN ATLANTIC. Received Monday, 7 p.m. LONDON, March 24. Tho lone flyer, Commander Macdonald, who perished in an attempt to fly the Atlantic, left £5929. Spaniard’s Attempted TransAtlantic Flight SECRET START. Australian Press Association. LONDON, March 24. A Seville message states that the Spanish aeroplane Jesus Del Gran Podor took off this afternoon on a trans-Atlantic flight to South America piloted by Captains Jimenez and Inglesas. The start was made in great secrecy.. The pilots refused to give a definite indication of the course, which may be to Havana and thence to Brazil or direct to Rio do Janeiro. Their only food is mineral water and chocolate. The machine was fitted with an auxiliary undercarriage, which was released when the plane had nm 300 yards. After another 300 yards run, it too circled over the city and headed for the Atlantic.

Schneider Cup GREIG’S MACHINE AT DISPOSAL OF PILOTS. RUGBY, March 24. Arrangements are being made for staging the contest for tho Schneider trophy which will be flown over th# Solent course in September so that the fullest opportunity will be afforded spectators on land of following its course. A British team of high 6peed pilots will shortly be transferred from Felixstowe to the air base at Calshot, noar Southampton, which will be their headquarters until the race. The crew will have at its disposal the machine in which the trophy was won by FlightLieutenant D’arcy Brieg at 315 miles per hour. Giant Monoplane For Non-Stop Trip ■■ —■ f 6000 MILES TO DURBAN. Received Monday, 7 p.m. LONDON, March 24. A giant monoplane constructed by tho Fairey Company undertook a successful 24 hours’ non-stop lest flight. This machine was specially designed to beat the long distance feats of any aircraft yet built, whether heavier or lighter than air and has a special Napier engine developed from the Napier Lion. It was built for the Air Ministry and there is a possibility that it will attempt a world’s non-stop record, flying 6000 miles to Durban to-morrow. The pilot will bo Squadron-Leader Jones-Williams and the second pilot and navigator, Flight-Lieut. Major.

Hinkler’s Sympathy With Moir’s Bad Luck Received Tuesday, 2 a.m. LONDON, March 25. Mr. Bert Hinkler, who is taking a very sporting interest in Moir’s flight, expressed sympathy with his ill luck and says he had his own anxieties in that stretch of country. Mesramatruh from tho air left the impression of irregular sand dunes and wa3 a hopeless spot for anyone to make .a safe forced landing.