AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20290, 24 December 1927, Page 11

AVIATION

SIR ALAN COBHAM’S FLIGHT. DAMAGE TO THE ’PLANE. QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. (British Official Wireless.) (Press Association—By Telegrapli—Copyright ) RUGBY, December 22. (Received Dec. 23, at 9 p.m.) Questioned in Parliament regarding the airship RIOO, now under construction privately for the Government, Sir Philip Sassoon, Under-Secretary for Air, said that it did not appear likely that the total fixed weights of the airship, including the passenger car and fittings, would exceed the contract figures of 90 tons. The two scientists who were investigating the airworthiness of the two airships now being built could not complete their investigations of RIOO for some months, but so far it appeared that the factors of safety laid down in the report of the airworthiness of airships panel has been fully adhered to. Answering a question regarding the damage to Sir Alan Cobham’s seaplane at Malta during the proposed flight round Africa, Sir Philip Sassoon said that a pair of wing tip flats were carried away by a swell during a landing, and the port elevator and lotver pilot 'plane w'ere damaged by the heavy sea whilst the machine was being launched. These parts are being renewed with as little delay as possible. Replying to another question, Sir Philip Sassoon said that seven aircraft were built this year, and six of these were made available for the Schneider trophy race. They were constructed for the purpose of carrying out an important programme of research into the problems of high-speed flight. Valuable data bearing on the problem of the soaring speed of aircraft had already been secured with these machines. OVER SEVEN MILES HIGH. WORLD’S ALTITUDE RECORD. LONDON, December 23. (Received Dec. 23, at 9 p.m.) A Turin message reports that Dqnati reached a height of 38,802 ft in officially supervised flight. This is claimed to be a world’s record.- —A. ajid N.Z. Cable.

FLIGHT OVER TURKEY.

ARREST OF AVIATORS

PARIS, December 22 (Received Dec. 23, at 9 p.m.)

Colonel Antouiat and his companions were arrested in Adalia for allegedly flying over Turkish territory without permission A, and N.Z. Cable.