AVIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1, 2 September 1913, Page 7

AVIATION .

HI'XTEI! VALLEY INCIDENT. Rev. G. W. Payne, Methodist minjis ter at West Maitland, writes as follows to the Sydney Daily Tolegraf.li: 1 —“ It may interest readers to know that whilst down at the lake with Mr ! und -Mi's Preston and my wife we saw an aeroplane with a searchlight, hovering fairly high over Nowsactle and the Hunter Valley. It was just a few minutes after 4 a.m. on Friday A reflection of the light on the still waters of the lake first drew attention to its presence. The four of us wachod it ■traversing a line from the direction of Newcastle north and west, though ‘at a considerable distance from us and | fairly high in the air. The nature of the light was quite unmistakable. It passed away in a westerly directtion after loitering some time over the Hunter Valley. Mr'Preston saw it about 2 a.m. on Thursday, and the rest of the party "saw it on Friday. Wo have speculated a good deal as to who the enterprising aviators are.’' “DAILY MAIL” CUP. The first thing that strikes one in connection with this important event is the paucity of entries—only two—for a prize of the value of £5000! Bui when it is explained that, the V\V Office placed impediments in the way The comparative failure from the eiv trv point of view Is easily understood. The following statement was published by the ‘‘Daily Mail,” the proprietors of which evidently felt considerably hampered by.what they thought departmental red-tape:— ‘‘The objections came from the Wa: Office, and were based on the Aerial Navigation Act of 1913, which pro hi hits flying over various arojis. Thir act war; passed to prevent foreign espionage from the air, and lias been enforced in such a manner that, as tin Royal Aero Club declared last week it h is gravely hampered British flying Ctr.ainly it has handicapped the ‘Daily Mail’ race in a manner undream cd of when the contest was announc od, “in the great race of 1911, when there was no official interference the ‘Daily Mail’ received 27 entries, 17 of them British, and 20 actually start cd. For the present race there are only two formal entries to date. “The sole reason for this is the oh struotioh by the War Office. Builder' of v aterplanos delayed their work un til ‘ hey knew the starting place am final conditions. Pilots who found, that the authorities apparently frown ed upon the race refu sed to cpter foit. ’ The following is a list of th,e large l . “Daily Mail” prizes for flying:— £IO,OOO for flight ly aeroplane fron London to Manchester in 21 hour, with not more than. .two. stoppage: en route. Offered November 17 1996. Won by M. Paulhau on Apri 28, 1910, with one stop en rout at Lichfield4B.3 miles r covered ii £42 minute^, n if ß - . ( h }t CiTDO for flight aqrpss the Channel be uveon England »uid France, ,to h accomplished.,fin daylight,• withem lunching ’the sea. Offered on Oc iolier 5. IPOS. Won by M. Eieriol July 25, 1909, in 46 infinites c ■flight, ClUi.'O far first circular fl-ght of on mile in an aeroplane by a Britiffl subject in tile British Isles on a ; 1!-British built machine. Won h; , Mr J. T. C. Aloore-Bra'bazon in ; Lhorfc aeroplane on October 30 ■?999. in 2nii.i 36sac. £10,090 for circuit of Britain coverin' a distance of 1000 miles in on week with 11 compulsory stops a fixed controls. Offered on Slay 22 MHO. Won by M. Beaumont o duly 2(5, 1911, in 22hr 23min, at 4 miles an hour, defeating M. Ved vines. Clo9o for greatest aggregate crosscountry flight in the year endin; • August 15, 1910. Won by A! Paulhan with 855 miles, defeatin' Mr GrahameAVhite with 842 miles MINOR, PRIZES. £l5O, £75, and £25 for aeroplan models awarded after exhibition a’ the Agricultural-hall, April, 1907. £IOO for half-mile flight (quarter mil out and return), won by M. Henn barman, January 14, 1908. .£l9O Cup for second cross-Channe-flight. Won by Count ■ Jacques d Lessens, May 21, 1910. £SO Cup to John B Moisant for fliglr from Paris to London, and small' cup to his mechanic and passenger l FT leux. Won September 6, 1910. £959 and Cold Cup for flight of 8 miles round London. Won by Air T O. Al. Sopwith, on June 8, 1912, iOOmin.