AVIATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 February 1933, Page 5

AVIATION

MOLLISON’S FLIGHT

ATLANTIC CROSSED (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 9th February. A Dakar message says Mollison commenced his transatlantic flight at 5 p.m. G.M.T., after an earlier unsuccessful attempt. (Received 10th February, 9.50 a.m.) ' NATAL (Brazil), 9th February. Mollison lauded here at 6.20 p.m. “A SWEET LITTLE SHIP” NATAL (Brazil), 9th February. Mollison landed in three days ten hours from Lynipne, breaking the 4j, days’ record of the French fliers. "Well,” smiled Mollison when lie climbed out of his ship, “that was easier than the north Atlantic, but I had good weather most of the way. She is a sweet little ship,” he said, with a fond glance at the ’plane “Heart’s Content.” Mollison was only slightly , fatigued as he stepped down from the ’plane to shake hands with the provincial governor, the mayor, and the rest of the reception committee. Thousands were at the field to greet him. Mollison will stay here overnight, proceeding to Rio de Janeiro on Friday. englanFto CAPE NON-STOP ATTEMPT (Received 10th February, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, 9th February. Squadron-Leader Gayford cabled the Air Ministry that after the failure of the automatic control they flew almost completely blind, with only brief glimpses of the moon and it was impossible to get the horizon. They landed with ten gallons of petrol. The engine was faultless throughout and gave them no qualms.

VERY BAD WEATHER ENCOUNTERED

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, 9th February,

Later details of the record longdistance flight show that the airmen encountered very bad weather over Africa, and for a long time flew blind through rain and haze. A dense desert dust storm put the automatic control mechanism out of action during the night, and strong headwinds were encountered throughout the following day. Although they had a certain quantity of petrtol left, which would have enabled a further distance to have been covered,_ it was decided to make a landing during daylight. They had actually passed Walvis Bay, and were about 200 miles nearer Capetown when they decided to return.

In three successive years Britain has now captured the world’s records for speed, height, and distance.