IN THE AIR

Southland Times, Issue 18962, 8 June 1923, Page 5

IN THE AIR

BRITAINS AERIAL PREPARATION. NEW FIGHTING PLANE. SPEED OF 150 MILES AN HOUR. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 7. (Received June 7, 7.45 p.m.) A new British fighting aeroplane, constructed by Vickers is ready to undergo its final flying trials. It is a two seater, fitted with a single Napier-Lion engine. It is expected the machine when fully equipped, with a crew, machine-guns and armaments, will have a speed of 150 miles an hour or 30 to 40 miles more than any fighting machine in the Government’s service. The fighting ’plane eventually adopted by the Air Ministry, will be ordered on a considerable scale, to replace the present machines and to equip the new air squadrons which have been sanctioned. AVIATOR’S NARROW ESCAPE. NEW YORK, June 6. (Received June 7, 7.45 p.m.) George Barbot, who a month ago flew across the English Channel in a diminutive 15 horse-power aeroplane, narrowly escaped death when he attempted a flight from New York to Washington in the same machine. A treacherous cross-wind at a low altitude drove the plane into a tree, where it was caught 20 feet from the ground. Barbot extricated himself and escaped with a cut face.