THE EARLY STAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21937, 22 October 1934, Page 9

THE EARLY STAGES

NUMEROUS MISHAPS SOME FORCED LANDINGS NO SERIOUS DAMAGE DONE j DIFFICULT TO GET BEARINGS j By Telegraph-Press Association— Copyrmht (Received October 21, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 20 j The broadcasting arrangements broke; down after the departure of a few of I the. starters in the Centenary air race. J This resulted in much confusion as to i identity. ~ , , Flight-Lieutenant G. Shaw cabled to ( the Aero Club that he was forced down at San Feliu de Guixols, 42 miles from Barcelona. His aeroplane was not damaged and he was awaiting _ the authorities' permission to fly on to Marseilles. ■ . Lieutenant Shaw explains that he lost his direction in thick clouds. "When he was over the Pyrenees he thought they were the French Alps. He was forced down owing to lack of petrol. Despatches from Paris state that the j weather is becoming worse and visibility j almost throughout France is under 100 j rds. From Marseilles it is stated that j Squadron-Leader M. C. MacGregor and Mr. H. Walker (New Zealand) before' leaving for Rome said it was most diffi- j cult to get their bearings crossing j France. They passed over Paris but could not sese it. ' At Athens Mr. J. "VN oods was de-. laved to enable his batteries to be re-, charged. He said he was out of the; speed rsct?, but would continue in the ; handicap event. His machine also was : damaged in landing and must be re- j paired. i Mr. K. D. Parmentier on arrival at: Athens said he flew at a rate of 190' miles an hour. His passengers ■nerOi enjoying the trip immensely. After refuelling he resumed the flight. Captain Neville Stack was forced j down at Abbeville at 9.10 a.m. in bad; weather. He made a perfect landing in, fog. He went on to Le Bourget, wnere | he said he would not resume until con-• ditions improved. His time at Le Bour-; get counts as flying time as it is not j an official checking point. A short-cir-cuit occurred prior to the landing, butj this was repaired. , j Mr. H. L. Brook landed at Plassis Luzarches, near Paris, at 9.15 a.m. owing to bad weather. He telephoned to Le Bourget asking for a weather report and a mechanic. Squadron-Leader J. T). Hewett (New Zealand) was forced down at Boulogne at 11.26 a.m., with engine trouble. He proposes to leave for Bagdad at dawn on Sunday.