DOUBLE SUCCESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 11

DOUBLE SUCCESS

ATLANTIC FLIGHTS BRITISH AND AMERICAN STATEMENTS BY PILOTS THE WEATHER CONDITIONS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 7, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 6

A message from Botwood, Newfoundland, states that the Empire flying-boat Caledonia landed there this morning after crossing the Atlantic from Foynes, li-eland. The flight occupied 15 hours 10 minutes. In an interview with a representative of the New York Times the pilot, Captain A. F. Wilcockson, said the weather conditions "were not bo good." Most of the way there were low clouds, drizzle and head winds. Therefore he was delighted with the short time of the trip.

Captain Wilcockson said he used 1700 gallons of petrol. v There were perfect conditions as the flving-boat approached Newfoundland.

A message to the North American Newspaper Alliance from the pilot of the Pan American Clipper, which landed at Foynes yesterday, said: "The sight of Ireland was really welcome. We were not tired. The flight from Newfoundland had been entirely pleasant. During the first part the going was remarkable, with smooth skies and a clear atmosphere. "We checked our bearings with the Caledonia as she passed 60 miles from us. After that we met rain which became soupy and grey and we depended upon our instruments for obtaining our bearings from nine steamers. When we were 100 miles from Ireland the clouds broke for our landing."

PROMISING FEATURE CONTACT BETWEEN MACHINES CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES British Wireless RUGBY. July 0 Among the many congratulatory telegrams received by the pilots of the British and American air-liners which have crossed the Atlantic was one from the Secretary of State for Air, Viscount Swinton.

The Caledonia flew low to minimise the effects of head winds, while the Clipper maintained a height of about 10,00()ft., to take full advantage of the following winds. Captain Wilcoc-kson, of the Caledonia, said he had petrol left for 800 or 900 miles when he landed. In his view, a promising feature of the flight was the evidence it afforded of two aeroplanes flying to schedule in opposite directions.

Radio contacts with land stations and between the aeroplanes had been maintained throughout, and when they passed in mid-Atlantic, although far out of sight of each other, they had exchanged greetings and weather reports.

The success of the flight convinced the pilots that there should be no difficulty in operating regular transatlantic services