AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20786, 3 August 1929, Page 15

AVIATION

FRENCH PLANE FORCED DOWN. VALUABLE CARGO OF BULLION. (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, August 1. (Received August 2, at 8 p.m.) While flying from London to Paris yesterday, a French aeroplane, which was carrying a cargo of gold valued at £IOO,OOO, was forced to descend at Smarden West. The machine stopped on the banka of the River Beult, and some of the boxes of gold were hurled into the water by the shock of landing. The pilot and the mechanic were not hurt, but the undercarriage of the machine was damaged. The bullion was recovered from the river and transferred to another machine, which took it to Paris. TO INDIA, AND BACK. THE DUCHESS OF BEDFORD. LONDON, August 2. (Received August 2, at 11.45 p.m.) The 63-year-old Duchess of Bedford started from Lyrape at dawn in an attempt to fly to India and back in a week in a monoplane named the “Spider,” which is piloted bv Captain Barnard and Mr. B. Little. She hopes to do the journey in four hops, the first to Sofia, the second to Aleppo, the third to Bushire and the fourth to Kara-chi-—Australian Press Association— United Service. OFFICER COURT-MARTIALLED. DRUNK AT THE CONTROLS. LONDON, August 2. (Received August 2, at 11 p.m.) Flying-officer Thomas was court-mar-tialled and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment for drunkenness while making an unauthorised - landing between Henslow and East Church pn May 3. The evidence showed that he landed at Hendon, consumed liquor, and crashed after his departure. Aircraftsman Mason jumped out and was killed.—Times Cable.