AERIAL NAVIGATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 27

AERIAL NAVIGATION

EXCITING EXPERIENCES. LONDON, August 18. It is doubtful if M'Lean will start for the Daily Mail’s contest owing to the continued engine trouble with hie short biplane. Pickles attempted to resume at 5 o’clock to-day, but after a short flight he dropped into the sea, and his machine became waterlogged. Pickles and Kauper, who were in a perilous position, were rescued. Their sea plant will be sent back to Southampton to prepare for a restart. Owing to the heavy sea swell off Yarmouth the floats of the hydroplane rose and became waterlogged. She drifted seawards, the engine stopped, and the pilot and mechanic were imperilled, but were rescued after 15 minutes’ buffeting. The engine was flooded. Besides suffering from sunstroke Harry Hawker has severely strained his eyes through discarding goggles, and he has also head pains through not using a silencer on the engine. He is now improving. August 25. Hawker started at 5.30 in calm weather, and he passed Dover at 7.55. He flew' very high and fast. A FAST TRIP. LONDON, August 20. Captain Longcroft, of the Royal Flying Corps, with a passenger flew' from Aidershot to Montrose with one stop in 7hrs 40min, averaging about 70 miles an hour. NAVAL MACHINE DISABLED. LONDON, August 20. The naval airship No. 2 became disabled at Oldham while travelling at a height of 200 ft. The new airship Eta, travelling at a height of 500 ft, overtook and secured No. 2 with * a cable, and towed it 14 miles to Farnborough.

AEROPLANES AT MANOEUVRES. LONDON, August 24. Four military aeroplanes co-operated in the manoeuvres in the southern division despite a fresh wind. The aviators threw down little bags containing reports with streamers attached, and orders were sent to the aviators in cypher by means of black letters 6ft long on white canvas pegged to the- ground. The position of a concealed battery and the effect of shrapnel were reported with sufficient success to justify each brigade of artillery being accompanied by aeroplanes. A LUCKY ESCAPE. PARIS, August 20. Pegoud, dropped in a parachute from a monoplane at Chateau fort, when 800 ft in the air, and landed in a tree uninjured. The authorities refused Pegoud permission to make a flight on account of the danger, but he eluded them. The parachute was folded at the back of tha machine, and was attached by ropes. Tha aviator stopped the motor of the monoplane, performing fantastic evolutions before coming to earth A NEW INVENTION. PARIS, August 21. M. Bleriot has invented a monoplana capable of landing properly, no matter at what angle it begins falling, provided it is high enough in the air to completely overturn. Pegoud, securely' strapped in, intends “ looping the loop ” in this machine. TRAGEDY IN FRANCE. PARIS, August 24. A hydroplane containing the aviator Montalent and hia brother was disabled at a great height above Rouen, and both men were killed. A NEW MACHINE. ROME, August 24. The delegates from the British Air Department, after witnessing several trials at Milan, have arranged for the construction of' a Rollanini dirigible. It is described as combining the advantages of the rigid and non-rigid types of airships.