ROUND THE WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19124, 19 March 1924, Page 7

ROUND THE WORLD

INTERNATIONAL AIR RACE AMERICANS GAIN ADVANTAGE. FIRST TO LEAVE THE POST. ProJ>> Association —By Tokgraph—Copynjhv NEW YORK, March 17. Four American air cruisers started from Santa Monica (California) to-day on a 50,000-milo journey round tho world. They are under the command of Major Frederick Marlin, and Pilots Smith, Wade, and Nelson, with relieving pilots. It is proposed to make stops at Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, and Prince Rupert Land. Tho route thence will bo via Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, Japan., and Asia. Major Martin aims at completing the trip ahead of three English fliers scheduled to leave London on Wednesday and four machines leaving Lisbon on the same mission a few weeks later.—A. and N.Z. Cable. One of the outstanding aerial events of this year promises to be a great international contest to circle the globe by aeroplane, wrote an air correspondent oi the Daily Mail recently. Organised by the United States Army Air Service, one oi the world flights is expected to start from Seattle before April 1, biplanes of a typo in which land-wheels can be replaced by floats for over sea stages being used. Tho route will be; Canada, Alaska, Aleutian Islands, Japan, China, French Indio China, Siam, Burma, India, Constantinople, England, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Montreal, Washington. The U.S. Naval Air Servise, too, is credited with the intention of making a world-flight in swift torpedo-planes. Two British efforts are in preparation. In one, in which a 450-h.p. amphibious aeroplane will be used, the navigator will be Squadron-Leader A. S. Maclaren and the pilot Flying-Officer \V. N. Plendcrleith. The route in this case, starting and finishing at London, will go eastward round the world, via Egypt, India, China, Japan, Canada, Newfoundland, Greenland, and Iceland. The second British scheme aims to employ a powerful, long-range, seaplane-type machine. The pilot will be Mr R. M. Macintosh, ami the navigator Captain F. Tymms. As at least two similar schemes are maturing in E'rance, and with others in Italy and Holland, there may be as many as eight teams striving to be first to effect a complete air-circuit of the worm. By travelling westward the Americans may expect to be helped by the ‘trade' winds when they come down from Japan to the China coast; but there appears to be no other advantage, and this may be offset by opposing winds at other stages. Both tho British and American parties, however, have decided against attempting any long sea stage, such as that of the Atlantic crossing from St. John’s to Ireland, flown by the late Sir John Alcock, or the Pacific by way of Honolulu. Apart from the credit of first flying round the world, the flights will be an interesting test of the endurance of machines and engines, although there have been greater flights than any of tho stages of the round-the-world flight. There is no doubt that the winning of such a triumph, apart from' its sentimental value, has a material side. The American Government realises this ,and the American victory in the Schneider seaplane contest last year has been followed by foreign orders for American aircraft, the American aero engine having received a tremendous advertisement from that victory. ZEPPELIN FOR AMERICA. A TRANSATLANTIC LINER. BERLIN, March 17. Final preparations are progressing at Friedrichshafen for a trans-Atlantic flight in Mav of a giant Zeppelin which Germany has to deliver to the United States on account of reparations. The airship is 650 ft long, and is capable of carrying 41 tons. It is equipped with every modern luxury and convenience, including running hot and cold water. It is hoped to complete the journey in four or five days, which will later ho shortened to two and a-half days.—A. and N.Z. Cable. An American paper recently stated that a largo airship, the Z.R. 3, was expected to arrive in the United States shortly. The vessel, which is wholly of German design and manufacture, was being completed at Ludwigshafen. It is 650 ft in length and 90ft in diameter, and is fitted with 10 400-hors-e-power engines. LARGE METAL AEROPLANES. INTERESTING POSSIBILITIES. LONDON, March 17. The Daily Chronicle says the imaginary creations of Jules Verne are beginning to come true. Aeronautical experts now see their way to build in metal flying machines as big as may he required for the most ambitions military or commercial project. Metal structural parts have been made of a size utterly impossible in wood construction. Furthermore, aero engines have been constructed in England cajiablc of developing over 10C0 h.p., with their weight brought so low that it will bo possible to use them for aviation. Research is now seeking to discover the largest aeroplane which it is possible to build successfully.—A. and N.Z. Cable. BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA. LONDON. March 3. Mr Holt Thomas, the aerial expert, in' a lecture at the Institute of Transport, estimated that tho cost of a weekly aeroplane service each way between Britain and Australia would bo £300,000 a year. Assuming that the aeropanes would carry half a ton of freight, letter postage should be under a shilling.