ATLANTIC FLIGHT

Southland Times, Issue 20174, 10 May 1927, Page 7

ATLANTIC FLIGHT

FRENCH “ACE”STARTS NUNGESSER ATTACKS NEW ENEMY DEPARTURE IN FIERCE THUNDERSTORM. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) London, May 8. Captain Nungesser hopped off at Cherbourg at 10 this morning. Dramatic thrills accompanied the start (on which they decided last night) amid a fierce thunderstorm, meteorological experts declaring that the storm was local and such favourable conditions were unlikely again. There was a following wind for 1500 miles, favourable in the neighbourhood of Newfoundland and thereafter improving. Nungesser and Coli, the navigator, shook hands on the decision and werit off to snatch a few hours’ sleep. Meanwhile the Goliath Levasseur Lorraine ’plane named Osheau Blanc, the latest French naval type, was finally tested and loaded at Le Bouget. Nungesser and Coli arrived at dawn. The latter admitted he had not closed his eyes. The former slept well. A crowd of air notables witnessed the start and wished the aviators God-speed.— A. and N.Z. A SENSATIONAL START. ATTEMPT NEARLY FAILS. London, May 8. Captain Nungesser cut short his farewells saying curtly to his assistants “When you like.” The engine roared and the ’plane moved slowly forward. The question uppermost in the crowd’s mind was whether Captain Nungesser would succeed in taking off in the heavily loaded ’plane when Fonck’s machine loaded with 2| tons crashed. The ’plane speeded up and the tail rose and fell to the ground. Nungesser opened the throttle till it tore the ground at a terrific pace and the tail again rose and fell. The ’plane was now dangerously near trees bordering the aerodrome. Cheers broke out as the wheels were seen lifting. Nungesser by superhuman effort forced the ’plane up, soared over the trees by a narrow margin and disappeared in the haze. Experts say he was travelling at 110 miles an hour when he took off only sixteen yards from the edge of the aerodrome. The route is across the Channel and South Ireland, along 54th latitude to Newfoundland and south-west to Boston. Everything depends on the reliability of the engine. Three great petrol reservoirs are placed in the machine in such a way that the airmen who are sitting side by side have barely room to move. They are unable to reach the engine and should it fail they are helpless. Before starting a metal propeller was submitted as a safeguard against striking an albatross thereby smashing the wooden one. Both are dressed in suits of double silk underneath leather coats as a protection against cold winds. Although everything possible had been sacrificed in the interests of lightness the airmen did not resist a few gifts from friends, also the first direct Paris-New York mail. When the machine commenced to climb the under-carriage was dropped to a field, thereby reducing the weight by 220 pounds. They crossed the English Chapnel at a height of 1200 feet and hope to complete the journey in thirty-six hours. Nothing is expected to be heard from them for the next twenty-four hours beyond meagre signals from ships in mid-ocean. Farrat, engineer of the Levasseur Company, says they built four motors before they were satisfied, each costing £16,000. “Nungesser carries £20,000 of our money as well as our hopes,” he remarked.—A and N.Z. ANXIETY FOR NUNGESSER’S SAFETY. STORM IN MID-ATLANTIC. (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) New York, May 9. With no word received from the airman Nungesser, particular anxiety is being felt for his safety, due to the United States Weather Bureau report of a storm a thousand miles in area in mid-Atlantic, which he must cross, headwinds from 25 to 27 miles per hour prevailing off the Newfoundland coast, and these it is beljeved will reach thirty miles per hour by the time Nungesser is expected. He was due to reach the American shore at between two and six o’clock on Monday morning, and it is feared that he will encounter the most adverse conditions before then.—A. and N.Z. DE PINEDO ARRIVES AT NEW YORK. (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) New York, May 9. De Pinedo arrived at Boston from New York in a new plane. He had an uneventful journey and was greeted by great crowds.—A. and N.Z.