ATLANTIC FLIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 8 August 1928, Page 5

ATLANTIC FLIGHT

, ’PLANE ON FIRE COURTNEY’S THRILLING ADVENTURE AIRMEN REACH NEW YORK United PreiSM'Assooiation— By Eleotrio Tolegraph—Copyright. Australian Press Association NEW YORK, 7th August. Captain Courtney and his crew, who were rescued in mid-Atlantic arrived on the steamer Minnesaska and were accorded the usual New York welcome. Courtney's narration of the story shows, the mishap to be one of. the most harassing adventures of the air. Courtney said, “I didn’t havo much feeling when it happened. It seemed so absolutely unreal. The engines were functioning better even than before. We were flying at 1500 feet. I saw a fame red glow on the windscreen and looked back. The whole rear of the engine was a blazing, terrific sheet of flame. I nosed the ’plane in a headlong dive and plunged toward the water. I looked down and saw a faint glow of fire in the water, and ■ guided by, this I managed to land automatically. When I pulled up to land I expected to find that the controls had parted as, the tail was huriung away. The flames went out when we landed.”

WRECKED ’PLANE PICKED UP

Australian Press Association-United Service.

(Received Bth August, 11.55 a.pi.) MONTREAL, 7th August. Wireless advice has been received that the steamer. Valpralto, bound from Nova Scotia, has picked-up Courtneys wrecked ’plane.

TRIAL. OF GERMAN FLYING BOATS

(Received Bth August, 11.55 a.m.) BERLIN, 7th August. A successful trial flight has been carried out of a 21 ton flying boat which is reputed to be the world’s largest, it was manoeuvred for 15 minutes at a height of 600 feet. Two others are being constructed. They are intended for tile proposed southern trans-Atlan-tic, passenger service. POLISH AIRMEN’S MISHAP LISBON, 6th August. - The Polish aviators who were forced down on the Atlantic flight are going to Paris, Their aeroplane was packed for transit. Both declare that they would have been in New .York in another few hours had not the mishap occurred. They will repeat the attempt at a favourable opportunity.