PROGRESS OF AVIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 19

PROGRESS OF AVIATION.

(By Cable.) NEW YORK, March 29. The New York Aero Club of America has announced that a cablegram has been received from the British Air Ministry saying that the invitation to fly a dirigible across the Atlantic to Atlantic City during the Pan-American Aeronautic Exposition in May is being considered. LONDON, April 1. An All-British aeroplane travelled from Paris to London in 80 minutes—a record.' Aviation companies are establishing a daily letter service betwen London and Paris. The fee is 2s 6d, with a guarantee of delivery in four hours. WASHINGTON, April 3. According to navy officials, British destroyers and other vessels will co-operate with the United States navy in patrolling the Atlantic during the contemplated Transatlantic flight. Despatches from St. Johns, Newfoundland; say that British airplanes are to start a Translantic flight on April 12. ST. JOHNS, April 8. Harry Hawker's and Grieve's transatlantic flight will begin in a fortnight, weather permitting. LONDON, April 8. The forthcoming transatlantic flight is oxciting tremendous interest on both sides of the Atlantic. The Air Ministry and the Admiralty have decided to give the utmost assistance, and the former has placed its entire information resources at the disposal of the firms and pilots. The Aero Club has received six entries., ST. JOHNS (Newfoundland), April 10. Major Hawker proposes to leave St. Johns at 4 p.m., and hopes to arrive at Brooklands at 4 o'clock next afternoon, with a total flying time of 19 iiours. A boat-shaped fuselage will support the aeroplane if an ocean descent is iorced. Food will be carried sufficient for 48 hours. On a former flight of nine hours in the same aeroplane 146 gallons of gasolene were

consumed^—just one-third of the tank capacity. Major Hawker made a 40-minute test flight overland. The machine behaved perfectly. NEW YORK, April 11. The New York Times St. Johns (Newfoundland) correspondent states : The Martinsydo biplane, with Mr F. P. Raynham as pilct and Captain C. W. Morgan. as navigator, • arrived from Liverpool aboard the steamer Sahcem. The United Press Washington correspondent says that the United States army service will have 1700 airplanes in active service and 3400 in reserve, and the peace time strength will be 21,853 enlisted men and 1923 officers. SYDNEY, April 9. One out of two De Haviland aeroplanes which left Melbourne on Monday week oft a test journey to Sydney for commercial purposes has arrived here. Engine troubles delayed the iourney, and the other machine is still detained atCoota* mundra. The flyers report that the route proved suitable and safe. MELBOURNE, April 13. The Federal Treasury has granted the registration of an aerial transport company which proposes to start a passenger and freight service between the capitals in July.