MR. MOLLISON'S RECORD

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1933, Page 7

MR. MOLLISON'S RECORD

SOLO FLIGHT OF ATLANTIC FIRST EAST-WEST CROSSING BAD WEATHER MET WITH BRILLIANCE OF NAVIGATION By Telegraph—Press Assn.-Copyright. Rec. 6.30 p.m. Rio de Janeiro, Feb. 11. Mr. J. A. Mollison is the first man to fly alone from east to west across the South Atlantic. In his small Puss Moth cabin aeroplane, with a 130 horse-power Gipsy Major engine, he accomplished an ocean flight of 2000 miles from West Africa to Brazil in 17 hours 5 minutes. For 700 miles of the journey he experienced very bad weather, with heavy thunderstorms. When he was approaching the coast of Brazil, having by brilliant navigation come within a few miles of Port Natal, rain was falling heavily. Nevertheless, Mr. Mollison described the journey as unexciting. He is expected to make the return flight to England by the same route. The machine is the same as used by him when he made the first solo east to west flight across the North Atlantic last August. Mr. Mollison arrived at Rio de Janeirofrom Natal, via Carravellas, at 11.50 on Saturday morning. He said he rfould remain for a week, perhaps longer, before proceeding to Buenos Aires. “It is a lot of fun, this flying,” he said, “but it is work too, and I have been going five days.” ', A military eshort came down the field with him and as soon as he stepped from the plane someone gave him a handful of telegrams, including one from his wife, Mrs. Amy Mollison. “The most interesting news I have heard this week,” he said, “was about the new British distance record. These flights demonstrate it is about time for a regular trans-Atlantic air service.” FRENCHMAN BEGINS FLIGHT. RETURN ATLANTIC CROSSING. Rec. 10 p.m. Rio de Janeiro, Feb. 12. Captain Jean Mermoz, the French pilot who flew the South Atlantic and whose record was broken by Mr. Mollison, started early this- morning to hop the Atlantic from Natal to Senegal. He left Buenos Aires on Friday morning and had covered the 3000 miles to Natal by Saturday evening.