AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20287, 21 December 1927, Page 9

AVIATION

SCHNEIDER CUP RACE. BRITAIN TO TAKE PART. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, xJecember 1&. In the House of Commons Sir Samuel Hoare (Air Minister), in reply to a question, said that in the discussions with a view to making the Schneider Cup race biennial instead of annual Me understood Britain would take part. She intended to spare no efforts to retain ‘be cup. Work was proceeding in th 6 development oi machines and engines with this object.— A. and N.Z. Cable. ENDURANCE FLIGHT RECORD. CAPTAIN SMITH’S ATTEMPT. NEW FORK, December 19. Progress messages radioed from Captain Smith’s ’plane during his attempt at the endurance flight, read as follows: When 16 hours in air: “Machine working perfectly. Have the highest hopes of continuing the flight to a successful finish.” At 18 hours: ‘All is well. At 19 hours: “ ’Plane is now over San Jose, flying 3000 ft high. Everything 0.K.”

Captain Smith was then at the controls while Lieutenant Pond was baking a nap. At 22 hours: “All is we)!.’’ "he ’plane was then abov c the city, and early in the morning workers were able to see the flashing lights as it cruised above the business district. At 23 hours {message unsigned): “Just had a little rlcep. Feel much better. All is fine up here, but I am rather doubtful about our gas holding out. However, we can only May up as long ns it lasts. Please tell everyone. ‘ Good morning.’ ” The 'plane passed the halfway mark at 10.23 a.m., when it had been in the air 26 hours, and still appeared to be functioning excellently. The latest message revealed that the ’plane was cruising up the Sacramento Valley.—A. and N.Z. Cable. GASOLENE RUNNING LOW. NEW YORK, December 19. A message received after 27 hours in the air said: “We are back in the bay region and 0.K., but we are running low on gasolene.—A. and N.Z. Cable. NEARING THE FORTIETH HOUR. FORCED TO HIGHER ALTITUDE. SAN FRANCISCO. December 19. (Received Dec. 20. at 10.10 p.m.) Captain Kingsford Smith and Lieutenant Pond as they approached the fortieth hour of tneir sustained flight, were forced to a higher altitude on account of the air currents requiring a greater gas consumption. They feared that they would be unable to remain aloft for more than six hours longer through lack of gas.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENTS.

SECRET POLICY OF 'GRANGE. LONDON, December 19. Jane’s annual publication, while dealing with the world’s aircraft developments, authoritatively describing the types of no fewer than 50 countries, strongly comments on the secret policy of France, who bluntly refused to divulge any details of the number and capabilities of her machines. Jane’s nevertheless gives remarkable figures, revealing tin. Franco has outstripped the world militarily, and possesses more lachmes than the rest of the Powers combined. The journal similarly points out that Germany dominates commercially. Lithuania owns 140 air liners, linking up the whole of Central Europe from the Baltic to the Mediterranean. Britain -ompares badly with a mere 20 linens, operating on half a dozen routes. Nevertheless, British military airships, though lewer, are won derfully efficient, possessing the types, together with an all-round high standard performance.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

COLONEL LINDBERGH'S MOTHER

FLIGHT TO MEXICO CITY.

NEW YORK, December 19. A message from Detroit fates that Mrs Evangeline Lindbergh took off as passenger in the first lap of a flight to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her son.—A. and N.Z. and Sydney Sun Cable.

FRENCH 'PLANE’S FLIGHT,

LE BOURGET TO HANOI,

PARTS, December 19. Colonel Anthoriant and his crew’ took off from Le Bourget at 5.30 this morning en route to Hanoi. The weather forecast is favourable, and they hope to accomplish the journey in five daye, via Rome, Athens, Aleppo, Basra. Karachi, and Calcutta.—A. and N.Z. table.