LONG FLIGHT COMMENCED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19632, 10 May 1927, Page 9

LONG FLIGHT COMMENCED.

PARIS TO NEW YORK TRIP. ADVENTUROUS FRENCHMEN* WEATHER CAUSES ANXIETY. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. A and N.Z. LONDON. May 3. Despatches from Paris state that the French airman Captain Nungesser left the Le Bourget aerodrome shortly after dawn on Sunday on his flight to New York. He was seen off Cherbourg at 10 a.m. on the same day. A message despatched frora Now York at 12.50 a.m. to-day (Mondiv) said the fact that no word had been received from Captaiin Nungesser up to that hour was causing particular anxiety for his safety. This was owing to the fact that tho United States weather bureau had reported that a storm was raging over an area of 1000 miles in mid-Atlantic which the airman must cross. Head winds with a velocity of 25 to 27 miles an hour prevailed off the Newfoundland coast and it was believed they would reach 30 miles an hour by the time Captain Nungesser is expected. He is due to reach the American shore between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. to-day, and it is feared he will encounter most adverse conditions before then. Start Made ia Thunderstorm. According to telegrams from Paris dramatic thriils accompanied the start- of the flight in a fierce thunderstorm. French meteorological experts, however, said the storm was local and that such favourable conditions were not likely to occur again. They said the airman would have a following wind for 1500 miles. The wind would bo less favourable iu tho neighbourhood of Newfoundland, but after that tho conditions would improve. Captam Nungesser and M. Coli, his navigator, shook hands on coming to a decision on Saturday evening to start on Sunday morning. They then went away to snatch a few hours' sleep. In tho meanwhile their Uoliuth Levas-seur-Lorraiue plane, named L'OiseauBlanc (tho White Bird), which is of the latest French naval type, was finally tested and loaded. Tho two airmen returned to Le Bourget at dawn. M. Coli said he had not closed his eyes, bat Captain Nungesser said he had slept well. A crowd of air notables witnessed the start and wished God speed to the aviators. Thrilling Scene at Departure, Captain Nungesser cut short tho .arewells, saying curtly to his assistants s " When you like." The engine roared and the piano moved slowly forward, Tho question that was uppermost iu the minds of the spectators was whether the airmen would succeed in taking off their heavily-lottded plane, when Fonck whoso machine weighed but two and e-half tons crashed. The plane speeded up, its tail rose and it fell to the ground. Captain Nungesser opened tins throttle until the machine tore along the ground at a terrific pace. Tho tail again rose and fell. Tho plane was now dangerously near to some trees which border the aerodrome. Cheers broke out as the wheels were seen to be lifting. Th« pilot by a superhuman effort forced the piano up and it soared over the trees with a narrow margin to spare ami disappeared in tho hassa. Experts say the machine was travelling at a speed of 110 miles an hour when it took oft only 16 yards from the edge of tho aerodrome. The routs of the flight is aeroas tho Channel to Sbuth Ireland, along the 54th latitude to Newfoundland and souih-west to Boston. All Depends upon th« Englns. 7% succasa of the flight depends on the reliability of the engine. Threw great petrol reservoirs were placed in the machine in such a way that tho two airmen, who were sitting sido by sido barely had room to move. They could not reach the engine, and should it fail they would be helpless

Prior to the start » metal propeller was substituted as & safeguard against, striking an albatross and thereby sma*h- „ ing a wooden propeller.

Both airmen were dresged in suit# of double silk beneath leather coat# for protection against cold winds.

Although everything possible was sacrificed in tho interests of )Jgbtnes:» tho airmen did not rwi# » tew gifts from friends. They also earned the first direct Paris-New York mail. When tho machine commenced to climb its under carriage dropped into the field. Thi» reduced its weigist by 2201b. Plana Crows the Channel, The machine crossed the Kngltith Channel at & height of J2ooft. Caplaiu Nungesser hoped to complete the journey in 36 hours. It was expected i« I'aris that nothing would bo heard of the airmen for 24 hours, except for meagre tignah Uom ships in mid-ocean. 51. FarrAt, engineer to the Lmacear Company, wys he ha# built four motor* for the plan's fcefo«»- ha ««* uliiM, Kach motor cost £I6,(XX). Captain Nu». gmer carried £20.000 of his firm*# money ~•» well as !? 1 hopes.