PROGRESS IN AVIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 18

PROGRESS IN AVIATION.

(By Cable.) CAPE TO CAIRO FLIGHT. CAPETOWN, February 23. The Vickers-Vimy aeroplane, flying to the Cape under the auspices of The Times newspaper, has arrived at Jinja. Its tyres were punctured, and a tail skid damaged ' by a rough landing at Nimule, and later on the crew had to camp out owing to damage to tho engines. They were disturbed at night by lions, and afterwards freat heat interfered with flying, but all ifficulfcies "were overcome, and the machine reached Jinja safely. LONDON. February 24. There are now three aeroplanes flying to the Cape, and two others are expected to start. CAIRO, February 25. The new Vickers-Vimy aeroplane to which the engines and other equipment of the Silver Queen have been transferred, started for Khartoum early to-day. Captain Mitchell reached Kisumu on the 24th, after two forced landings. He camped out two nights, and the lions disturbed his rest. Details of Mitchell's flight from Tabora .southwards state that the country is almost everywhere covered with dense forests and lakes, teeming with elephants, lions, leopards, rhinoceros, giraffes, zebras, chimpanzees, crocodiles, snakes, and brilliant-plum-aged birds, and is infested with pestilent mosquitos. Of the other aviators engaged in the Cape flight, Reynfield has arrived at Khartoum, and Brackley at Assiout. The Handley-Page machine arriving at Assouan is Major Brackley's. It was organised and equipped by the London Daily Telegraph. It flew the Mediterranean 470 mile lap on Friday. Two Wilford pilots and two mechanics are aboard the Vickers-Vimy machine, which left London for the Cape. The start was purposely delayed to enable three earlier aeroplanes to compete in the race. The machine is making the flight solely for the purpose of reporting on the conditions governing the route, and the possibility of improvement in the. African air service. ' The Handley-Page machine which is flying to the Cape, has reached Assouan. The Vickers-Vimy machine has arrived Kisumu, in British East Africa. CAPETOWN, February 26. The aeroplane Silver Queen left Khartum for Mongalla on February 25. The Times machine arrived at Tabora on February 27, all well. February 27. The starboard engine of the Times machine failed when taking off from the Tabora aerodrome. The aeroplane crashed, Captain Cockerill's wrist being sprained, and Lieutenant Corty's leg being bruised, but no serious damage was done to the men. Both under-carxiages were broken through the lower planes. It is impossible to repair the machine without completely dismantling the new under-carriages and the new lower planes. The tanks, engines, and propellers were untouched by the crash, but the engines, in any case, are hopeless, and will require a complete overhaul and new cylinders. The pilots will await instructions, as a continuation of the journey i 3 now hopeless. CAPTAIN MATTHEWS' MISHAPS. BOMBAY, February 24. Captain Matthews has repaired his machine, and left Bunder Abbas on the morning of February 24 for Karachi. He reached Jask in the afternoon, but nis landing damaged the under-carriage of the aeroplane, entailing further delay. HIGH FLYING. _ PARIS, February 21. The French airman Oasal, with two passengers aboard, reached a height of 23,725 ft from Villa Coublac, near Paris. FLIGHT TO TOKIO. ROME, February 25. The last squadron of four machines will leave for Tokio on Saturday. All the others are now at Aleppo awaiting favourable weather. ALLAHABAD, February 24. The first of the Italian aviators (Lieutenant Farrier) flying from Rome to Tokio reached Bagdad on February 22. February 27. The second Italian aviator, Hazen,. flying from Rome to Tokio, arrived at Baghdad on February 25 from Aleppo, through a blinding snowstorm. THREE AEROPLANES MISSING. "LONDON, February 26. The Air Ministry reports as missing three Air Force aeroplanes, which left Chester on the afternoon of the 21st for Dublin. They were sighted traversing Wales, after which no news was received until a wireless message from the steamship Norfolk Bange stated that an aeroplane h«d fallen into the sea 85 miles south west of the Scillies. On the same afternoon a lifeboat was launched, but was unable to effect a rescue owing to the boisterous weather. The Air Mmistry 'a of the opinion that the wrecked aeroplane is one of the missing machines. Apparently the pilot lost his way. There is no news of the remaining two. AUSTRALIAN AIRMAN'S ADVENTURES. LONDON, February 25. Airmen mention the arrival at Cairo on Saturday of a De Havilland machine, manned'by two Australians proceeding to Australia. The Australians had extra-

ordinary adventures and escapes. They tossed like a leaf over Mount Vesuvius, and landed at Mersa Metruh at the water's edge, but managed to ascend. The machine is undergoing repairs after its unduly sever© experiences. FLIGHT ACROSS THE PACIFIC. BRISBANE, February 26. Sir Arthur Brown) the first aviator to cross the Atlantic with the late Sir John Alcock, is visiting Australia. He believes that aviators will yet succeed in crossing the Pacific. SIR ROSS SMITH'S FLIGHT. SYDNEY, February 23. Sir Ross Smith resumed his journey to Melbourne to-day. He carried Mr Hofinan (New South Wales State Premier) as a passenger to Cootamundra, where he will open his election campaign. February 24. Sir Ross Smith left Cootamundra this morning, but descended twice owing to engine trouble. He finally decided to spend the night at Henty, near Albury. MELBOURNE, February 25. Sir Ross Smith landed at the Point Cook: Aviation School this morning, completing the voyage from London to Melbourne as originally intended. The Government will present him with a cheque fox £IO,OOO on Friday. SYDNEY, February 27. Sir Ross Smith is dividing the prize of £IO,OOO equally with his crew (Sir Keith Smith and Sergeant Bennet). Sir Ross Smith declined the offer of £IO,OOO for the world's rights of a limited lecturing tour.