ALTITUDE RECORD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21297, 26 September 1932, Page 9

ALTITUDE RECORD

BRITISH FLIER'S FEAT OFFICIAL RECOGNITION (Received September 25, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Sept. 24 The Royal Aero Club has confirmed the claim of the British airman Captain Cyril Uwins to the world's altitude record made last week.

Captain Uwins, who is the chief test pilot of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, reached a height of 43,976 ft., or well over eight miles, which exceeds the previous world's record, held by the United States, hy nearly 800 ft. The machine used was five years old and before being brought homo from China and reconditioned it lay in flood water for a considerable time at Nanking aerodrome. A Bristol Pegasus engine was chosen for the attempt and Captain Uwins believed he could have flown even higher had not his petrol supply been exhausted. Two sea-led barographs were placed in tho machine before the ascent by the Royal Aero Club and afterwards these were handed to the National Physical Laboratory for examination. Tho airman wore clectrically-heatcd clothes and took an oxygen apparatus. He flew through more than 100 degrees of frost.

Captain Uwins, who sustained a dislocated neck through a war crash,i in recent years has done much experimental work in developing aircraft and engines. He was the guest of honour at a luncheon given at Filton aerodrome.