PIONEER AIR FLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20740, 6 December 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

PIONEER AIR FLIGHT.

ATTEMPT ON ATLANTIC.

STORY OF BRAVE EFFORT.

AIRSHIP OF 20 YEARS AGO. - Tlio 20th anniversary of man's attempt to fly the Atlantic fell on October 15. This essay was undertaken in the dirigible America, which started at Atlantic City and came to an end 1000 miles out at sea. The attempt was unsuccessful, but it demonstrated the practicability of a flight at any rate from Newfoundland to Ireland oven at that date—l9lo.

The only Englishman on board the America was Commander Murray Simon, R.N., with whom a correspondent of the Manchester Guardian, on the recent anniversary day, had a most fascinating talk on his experience. He was a junior officer on a British liner lying in New York, and hearing that the America wanted a navigating officer he volunteered for the position and was immodiatoly engaged. Later he joined the navy, serving during the war. In the course of his story Commander Simon said:—

" Unforeseen things prevented us starting earlier than October (1910) in the America in the attempt to fly the Atlantic. We aimed to start in September, instead of which wo were not ready until October. This made us late for an Atlantic flight. The ship was commanded by the explorer Walter Wcllman, who had tried to get to the North Pole. We started from Atlantic City in dense fog; otherwise conditions were perfect. We made good progress for 24 hours, everything functioning perfectly. Lightening the Ship.

" At the end of 24 hours the wind freshened considerably, approaching gale force, leading to the equilibrator pulling tho ship down on to the sea. To save the ship and ourselves we had to jettison petrol and anything we could. We realised on the second day, that with tho equilibrator the flight was hopeless—theory and practice did not coincide." " On tho second night we proceeded to break up our engines to lighten tho ship against tho contraction of the gas. On the morning of the third day it was calm and hot, and tho ship started to creep out of tho water and up until wo reached a height of 5800 ft. She was then chocked at tho gas valves, hydrogen was let out, though it was really our life blood, and then she started to fall like a stono.

" The equilibrator, which had spoiled our chance of getting across, saved our lives by taking tho fcea first. It weighed two tons, and as soon as it touched tho water, that weight was taken off the ship. The lifeboat then hung about six feet above tho sea. After first striking the sea the ship rebounded like a rubber ball and up wo went again for 500 ft. Then up and down we went until she reached equilibrium. Engine Thrown Overboard,

"On tho third evening, after having lost so much gas, we had to throw overboard tho remainder of the engine to keep the ship afloat, and during the niglit we realised that the following morning before the sun got any height wo would have to abandon the ship. Wo got in the lifeboat, and at dawn on tho fourth morning tho steamship Trent was sighted. A flare was burned to attract attention. Wo then got into communication by means of a Morse lamp " The wireless operator of the Trent was cajled—we had wireless—and then we communicated with the Trent by wireless. She told us she would stand by and pick us up. As soon as there was sufficient daylight we opened the gas valves and let the ship come down near the sea. We were then about 60ft. high. We launched the boat. " We were drifting broadside at a rate of about 16 knots, so you can imagine there was a splash wnen we touched water. However, we were picked up, and later, when tho boat was brought alongside the Trent, a stowaway tabby cat which we had had with us, and which we had placed in a watertight compartment, was saved as well. The Lost Dirigible. What happened to the dirigible ? Well, we thought she had been lost, but some time afterwards I heard that Savage Landor had discovered that in the dense forests of South America the natives spoke of some wonderful monstrosity of a bird which they had seen some years before. I should not be surprised if that was the America or part of it." As Commander Simon had spoken of the flight having demonstated the practicability of an Atlantic flight, he was asked if he had taken any steps toward making another attempt. lie replied, " Yes. I brought the matter before Sir Thomas Lip ton, and ho referred me to Lord Dewar. However, nothing came of it."

Commander Simon then went on to describe the technical details of the America and spoko highly of the swivelled propeller, which was the invention of Vaniman, tho chief engineer. " This propeller," ho said, " could be used at any angle. Its normal use was driving us ahead, but it. could be used to elevato or depress the ship. And I think tho invention could be used with very great advantago in modern airships."