BRITISH SEEK AIR RECORD

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1929, Page 13

BRITISH SEEK AIR RECORD

PLANE FLYING TO CAPETOWN ATTEMPT TO COVER 5000 MILES. WEATHER CONDITIONS PERFECT. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, Dec. 17. The Royal Air Force Fairey-Napier monoplane, piloted by Squadron-Leader Jones-Williams and Flight-Lieutenp-nt Jenkins, took off from the Cranwell aerodrome at 8 a.m. in an attempt on the record for non-stop Hights. They are Hying to Captown. The weather conditions were perfect. The monoplane will fly in a straight lino to South Africa, GOOD miles distant, an.l it is hoped that the present world non-stop distance flight of 49U0 miles will be broken. The machine will carry more fuel than on its non-stop fight to India last spring, and will this time be equipped with a special compact wireless set, which will enable the airmen to keep in contact and record the progress of the flight. The machine’s aneroid will be equipped with a contrivance which sounds an audible warning when it descends below a certain level. The machine is a beautifully streamlined monoplane propelled by a 530 horse-power Napier-Lyon water-cooled engine, akin to the Napier racing engines which are fitted to Supermarine monoplane flown at miles an hour by Flight-Lieutenant D’Arcy Greig, and Sir Henry Segrave’s “Golden Arrow.” The present record is held by the Frenchmen, Captains Costes and Bellonte, who flew from Paris to Manchuria recently, a distance of 4912 miles. JonesWilliams and Jenkins made an attack or ’’ long distance record last April. They left Cranwell in the same monoplane as they are now flying but, after covering 4130 miles, they were forced down by petrol shortage at Karachi, India.

The weather conditions over a large part of the I'oute on this occasion are reported to be favourable and the airmen expect, if all goes well, to arrive at Capetown on Thursday afternoon, after a Hight of about 55 hours. The machine was reported 50 miles off the north-west coast of Sardinia at 4 o’clock this afternoon. The route after leaving Sardinia will bo by way of Tunis, Ghat in the French Sahara, Duala in the Cameroons, Benguella in Portuguese West Africa and Walfish Bay in South-West Africa. The course selected enables the pilots to avoid mountainous country, particularly in the earlier stages. In order to beat the existing record it is necessary, under the international regulations, to fly at least 100 kilometres, or 62 */ 2 miles, more than the French figure, so the British pilots must fly a minimum of 4975 miles measured on n great circle course to secure the record for Britain. This means that they must reach a point in South-West Africa about 30 miles south of the Kuene River and about half-way between Benguella and 'Walfish Bay. The aircraft is fitted for this flight with a short wave wireless transmitting set and will transmit routine reports giving its position every four hours, at 8 o’clock, 12 o’clock and so forth. It will transmit on 33.71 metres. It is not equipped to receive messages during the flight. Private wireless stations are therefore asked to refrain from transmitting on this wave length, as they are liable to cause jamming and may thus prevent the reception of an urgent message. There is always the possibility of a forced landing. To meet such an emergency the airmen are equipped with sportin" guns and ammunition. They have also with them curious scimitarshaped knives, by means of which they will be able.to cut their way through the jungle if necessary.

SEVENTEEN HOURS’ SILENCE. AIR MINISTRY NOT PERTURBED. Rec. 1.40 a.m. London, Dee. IS. Nothing has been heard of the fliers since they were over Sardinia. The Air Ministry is not perturbed at the 17110111' silence as it is opined .the wireless transmitter has broken.

FRENCHMEN'S CIRCUIT RECORD. VIOLENT WIND IN LAST STAGES. Paris, Dec. 17. The airmen Captains Costes and Codos have landed at Istres. They covered 50C0 miles, a world, record for circuit Hying. During the last part of the Hight they encountered a violent mistral. Costes now shares two world records, in a straight line and closed circuit.