TRANS ATLANTIC FLIGHT

Southland Times, Issue 20172, 7 May 1927, Page 7

TRANS ATLANTIC FLIGHT

START MADE FROM AFRICA. DO OR DIE VENTURE. London, May 5. Captain St. Romain has left the African coast on his trans-Atlantic flight to Brazil. A wireless message received later stated that he was far out at sea and was going well. He does not carry the official sanction of the French Air Ministry because he removed the floats from his machine. On the other hand, the Franco-Latin Association, which made itself responsible for the flight, declares it has every confidence in him. Captain St. Romain declared before starting that he had entire confidence in the machine without floats. The mechanic, Mathis, who accompanied him to Marseilles, withdrew because he regarded the trip as dangerous. He was replaced by another.— A. and N.Z. STILL ANOTHER ATTEMPT. DIFFICULTIES OF COMMERCIAL AVIATION. London, May 5. Captain Nungesser expects to start on Monday in a Bleriot machine. In an interview he said a trans-Atlantic flight could only be commercially practicable by establishing three or four mid-ocean stations, where the machines could land and replenish. “Aviation has not advanced to a stage which makes these crossings more than sporting events. Distance and weather are no obstacles, but commercial transAtlantic flights must be preceded by numerous trials. The factors militating against commercial usefulness included fuel, the crowding out of passengers and the necessity to form a horseshoe of goods stations, while there would have to be a number of large powerful aeroplanes flying at a great height. These are very expensive, costing at least £lOO,OOO each.”—A. and N.Z.