NEW RECORD FOR ATLANTIC CROSSING

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1936, Page 7

NEW RECORD FOR ATLANTIC CROSSING

MOLLISON TO CONTINUE TO CAPE

[United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.! • , (Received 9.30 a.m.)

' LONDON, October 29. Mr j. a Mollison, the famous British aviator, left Harbour Grace at 510 p.m. Newfoundland time, or 8.40 p.m. Greenwich time yesterday. He landed at Croydon Airport at 9.52 a.m, today, one hour earlier than his own estimate. ,

His machine was heard over Valencia, Ireland,. at 5.55, so that the actual sea crossing took 9hrs. 15min. ■ The previous solo record was Mrs Amelia Earhart’s 14hrs. 54min., in 1932. The airman- was exhausted when lifted out of the machine. His first need was a whisky, and after that a rest. He will take off for the Gape perhaps within a day. A thousand spectators welcomed IVTr Mollison, who said he sighted no ship during his 200 miles an hour crossing. He did not see Ireland and got his first landfall in Wales,; where he picked up his position and made straight for

Croydon. His worst experience was 600 miles out, when ice was troublesorrie on the wings at a height of 15,000 feet. Mrs Mollison was not present when her husband arrived, but expressed satisfaction at his safe and successful flight. Mrs Mollison congratulated her husband on the finest flight of his career. She expressed disappointment at her inability to meet him owing to her having been ordered a complete rest. f ; ■Mr Mollison experienced cold weather on his Atlantic flight, and soon after leaving Harbour Grace ran into a snowstorm. He flew in circles for an hour in an endeavour to rid the plane of ice, which was proving dangerous.