AVIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3899, 4 December 1928, Page 30

AVIATION

CAPTAIN HURLEY. PLANE CRASHES IN GREECE. ATHENS, November 26. Captain Hurley crashed on leaving the Tatoi aerodrome. The machine was almost destroyed and the airmen were bruised. FLIGHT TO BE CONTINUED. ATHENS, November 26. Captain Hurley writes: “After conquering the gale which swept the Mediterranean we landed at Athens aerodrome in mud and slush, and decided that we must leave immediately or remain indefinitely. The plane was just gaining speed when it struck a boggy stretch. The wheels sank We avoided a headlong crash into a ravine and hopped the chasm. The wheels hit a high bank with terrific force, and the machine somersaulted and landed on its back, wrecked. We wriggled out from the wreckage with minor cuts and abrasions. We are determined to see the job through. The spirit of Australia survives. We propose to secure a new machine from England. We feel confident that our countrymen will stand by ns.” CAPTAIN HURLEY INJURED. ATHENS, November 27. Captain Hurley was taken to the hospital suffering from a wound in the head. His condition is satisfactory. The machine was so badly damaged that a resumption of the flight is impossible. FINANCIER OF VENTURE. SYDNEY November 28. A wealthy Sydney resident Mr T. Rofe, who largely financed Captain Hurley’s monoplane has received a cablegram from Captain Hurley and Flight-Lieu-tenant Owens expressing regret at the crash. Mr Rofe now announces his willingness to contribute another £lOOO towards a new machine. The Air Board at Melbourne states that Filkht-Lieutenant Owens’s resignation from the Air Force has been accepted. It was generally thought tnat the Air Board had granted him leave of absence to undertake the flight with Captain Hurley. SEVERAL OFFERS RECEIVED. ATHENS, November 28. Captain Hurley says that he has received offers of financial assistance for a new machine, but is awaiting advices from Australia. FATAL CRASH AT BOSTON. VANCOUVER, November 26. A report from Boston states that, having bought a plane two weel ago, William Lang, aged 24, was convinced that he had mastered flying, and offered two friends a pleasure flight The plane fell 1000 feet, and all were killed. CANADA’S YOUNGEST PILOT. OTTAWA, November 26. Jack Armstrong, aged 14, the youngest pilot in Canada, has completed a trip to Toronto with two passengers. He has more than 100 flying hours to Eis credit. WORLD’S ENDURANCE RECORD. VANCOUVER, November 26. At Fresno (California), ia an effort tb break the world’s sustained flight record, Pilot Lee Schoenhair and John BuglielinOtti made a perfect take-off to-day in a

single-motored plane with a total load of 76501 b. They have 646 gallons of gasolene and 40 gallons of oil, which is believed to be sufficient fuel for an 80 hours’ flight. BRITISH AIR MAIL SERVICES. RUGBY, November 27. The Postmaster-general announces that owing to the suspension of certain connecting air services abroad the letter air mail services to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, and the air parcel services to Denmark and Sweden, have been suspended until further notice.

CAPTAIN CAMPBELL. LONDON, November 28. Captain Malcolm Campbell has returned after an adventurous flight. He was forced down on the African coast, robbed by Riffs, rescued by Spanish soldiers, and finally came home in a Spanish steamer. He found an ideal speed track, but de cided not to utilise it, owing to its re moteness and the expense of maintaining headquarters there. Captain Campbell said that he was returning with shattered illusions as t< making a motoring record in the Sahara. He found the area all right," about 800 miles north of Timbuctoo, but it was 150 miles to the nearest outpost, and the only access was across an arid and un even desert, over which all supplies, including water, must be carried. CIVIL AERONAUTICS. RUGBY, November 29. The Air Ministry announces that Lord Thomson sailed in the Majestic to-day for the United States, where he will represent the Air Ministry at the international conference on civil aeronautics, which is to be held in Washington from December 12 to 14. Lord Thomson was Secretary for Air in the Labour Government of 1924, and his appointment to represent the present Government is therefore a remarkable tribute to him as an authority on aeronautics. “ ;

SIR HUBERT WILKINS. LONDON, November 29. Sir Hubert Wilkins sent a wireless message from Deception Island on November 28 that unfavourable flying weather had been experienced for the past six days, with high winds, low clouds, wet snow, and intermittent visibility. At the first opportunity both machines are leaving the Weddell Sea, and will be gone for several days. CRASH AT NORTH ESSENDON. MELBOURNE, November 30. A Moth aeroplane was wrecked when making a forced landing at North Essendon. Two Aero Club members, Manifold and Gardiner, were injured. The aeroplane was wrecked. IMPERIAL AIRWAYS. RUGBY, November 29. Sir Samuel Hoare (Secretary of State for Air), in reply to a question in the House of Commons, announced that an agreement had been reached between the Persian Government and Imperial Airways, Ltd., regarding the establishment of bases in Persia for an air service between Great Britain and India, and the relevant documents would probably be signed this week.