ATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 104, 3 May 1919, Page 6

ATLANTIC FLIGHT.

TBBMENDOtIS INTEREST,

* T1» forthcoming ti’ans-AUantic flight is exciting trem-endoue interest on both Sides of the Atlantic, says a London message of 10th April. The Air Ministry and tifcp Admiralty have decided to give the utmost assistance. The former has placed its entire information resources at the disposal of firms and pilots.,. The Aero Club ha® received six entries, including two Austtaiianis— Pfekles, piloting a Fairley machine of 37b horse-power, with a speed of 120 miles per hour, and Hawk(*r, piloting a Sopwith of 350 horse-power and a e pcod of 100 milee per hour. The pilots will utilise three methods of navigation-—directional wireless, astronomical observation, and dead reckoning. The first is largely inadequate owing to the absence of wtrelaas stations north and south of the projected course, and recourse must bo m»de t»s the second and third, in which, it is hoped, passing chape, will give valuable assistance. The Marconi Company has instructed ftS operators on shipboard to render every assistance to transmit to land the position of any aeroplane sighted. Ships hearing aircraft at night have “been asked to bum lights and keep a lookout for the Verey lights and S.O.S. calls which aeropanas will use in case of accident. The prevailing winds of Arpii are westerly, and they are expected to assist the flight materially- . The Air Ministry has obtained the Cp-operation of the Weather Bureau ahd ships to ascertain the fullest weather information, and the Ministry s own staff, for the collection of information for transmission to the competitors‘before they start and during the flight. The bulk of the transmission mil be made via ships along the route. , The Air Ministry is providing aerodromes at Fcrmoy for competitors desiring to land in Ireland. JTho Admiralty has issued instructions to mariners requesting them _to keep a sharp look-out, and explaining sti^ißlo - . method" of communication with aeroplanes and the best- methods 01 rescue in case of necessity. The Aero Club of America announces' that a cable has been received from the British Air Ministry, saying that the invitation to fly a dirigible across the' Atlantic to Atlanit-c City during the pan-Amgrican Acromj|)ric Exposition i» May Being considered.