LONDON TO PARIS BY AEROPLANE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14691, 27 May 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

LONDON TO PARIS BY AEROPLANE.

WORLD'S RECORD ROKEN.

250 MILES IN 236 MINUTES.

M. PironE PmV.R, a young aviator who "has recently given some admirablo expositions of the art of flying at Hendon, started about half-past, one in the afternoon from the northern suburb of London on a Bloriot monoplano on a flight to Paris. He experienced a good deal of fog while Ravelling towards the coast of Kent, but mado a splendid passage over the Channel, crossing from Dover to Boulogne in rather lees than half-an-hour. This in itself is a world's record for the cross-Channel trip of 25 miles, Moisant's famous journey, with his mechanic as passenger, on August 17 last, having occupied 32 minutes for a similar distance; while Bleriot, on the memorable July 25, 1909, when tho crossChannel flight was first achieved, took 37 minutes; Do Lesseps, on May 21, 1910, 45 minutes; and the. Hon. Charles Bolls, on his great round non-stop dash from Dover to Calais and back, on Juno 2, 1910, did the estimated distance of 55 miles in 90 minutes.

M. Prier had fine weather for much of the journey over Franco, but ran into fog again at Beauvais. The distance from Hendon to Issy-lea-Moulineaux is about 250 miles, and the whole journey was accomplished in 236 minutes, or an average speed of somewhere about 64 miles per honr. Never before has the London to Paris flight, or vice versa, been performed without a stop. M. Moisant, on August 16 last, left Paris for London with his mechanic, but descended at Amiens and Deal, whero bad weather delayed them for several days. Eventually, after many mishaps, they arrived at Beckonham. Not only has M. Prier achieved the longest direct cross-country trip on record, but his flight is, with two exceptions, the most protracted of any sort. On September 7 M. Weymann flew from Paris to Nerondoz, 147£ miles, without a stop, and this distance as a direct journey was not beaten until M. Prier's . achievement. M. Tabuteau, on October 28, 1910, did a continuous flight of 289 miles in 6h lm 355, at Buc, France; and on December 21, xaiU, M. Longnoux, at Pau, went 320 miles in on. 59m. But these were flights of the roundtrip description, and not from point to point. Start from Hendon. M. Pierre Prier, who used a Bleriot monoplane, left the aerodrome at 12.16 and flew towards London, but, discovering a leak in tho pressure feed of his reserve petrol tank, he knew that he could not accomplish the journey under those condi-. tions, so returned to the aerodrome after being in the air lialf-an-hour. He then resolved to start on the big flight so soon as the necessary repairs were carried out. While this was being done he lunched, and then final preparations were made for tho start. . . At 1.37 p.m. he was given the official send-off by. M. Norbert Chercau, and the aviator rose rapidly from the aerodrome and headed towards the ©astern side of London. His object was to reach the coast by way of Chatham and Canterbury, passing over Dover to Cap Grisnez to secure a short sea passage, then follow tho coast toBoulogne, striking inwards, from there, as lie was better acquainted with the route to Paris via Boulogne. , When M. Prier left Hendon there was » slight north-east wind blowing. As he passed over Dover it'was north-west, anck he edged into it. He was flying quite 2000 feet high, and ae the word passed, that an aeroplane was above crowds flocked to the front, but most of the people were too lata to see him, for he was travelling at a great pace. He reached Dover at a quarter to •three, and was lost to sight ten minutes lat6r. He crossed the water just as the Ostend boat arrived. The weather was splendid, and the aviator made excellent progress. Reaching the French coast, he turned, as he had arranged to do, and passed over Boulogne at 3.40 p.m. Ha was then 3000 feet high. M. Prier was favoured with perfect weather on the French side, and had . a splendid journey to Paris, landing in front of the Bleriot sheds at Issy-les-Moulineaux before-a large number of spectators at 5.33 p.m. He had accomplished the complete journey without a stop in four minutes under the four hours. Despite the long; journey, he made a perfect landing, and concluded his great flight without havingexperienced any trouble whatever. M. Pierre Prier was born at Rouen on December 26, 1886, so that he is just over 24 years of age. He was a certified engineer at the Paris School of which he left four years ago. He then did his two years' military service in the Engineers, and during the second year of his service was attached to the French Aero Corps. On leaving he was engaged by M. Louis Bleriot, and passed through the aeroplane works. He went to Pau to learn to fly at the beginning of 1910. After the winter season he moved to the Bleriot summer school at Etampes, where it was his duty to test all new machines. He remained there until the end ci September, when he came to the Bleriot school at Hendon as chief instructor. He will be remembored as the aviator 1 who flew over .Olympia on the opening of the motor show Inst November. The machino he used for the great flight was a 50 horse-power Gnome-engined Bleriot monoplane, carrying three special tanks for an extra large supply of petrol. The motor was protected by a metal hood, which extended towards the pilot, so as to shield him from the wind. He was well equipped for the journey, and carried among other things a special compass do-, signeai -by; M. Bleriot.