IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16463, 16 June 1919, Page 3

IN THE AIR.

FLIGHT ACROSS ATLANTIC.

ACCOMPLISHED BY BRITON.

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright,

A Vickers-Vimy aeroplane, with pilot Alcock and navigator A. W. Brown, left Newfoundland at 4.13 p.m., Greenwich time or 12.5 p.m. New York time,, bound on a transatlantic flight to England.

VANCOUVER, Juno 14. The latest messages from Halifax state that the Viokors-Vimy aeroplane has not been reported. The steamer Ligby, arriving, saw no trace, though she crossed the aeroplane’s route.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn . London, June is. - A wireless message from Clifton, Ireland, states that the Vickers-Vimy machine alighted in Ireland at 9.40 aim. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ARRIVAL OF THE HEROES. AFTER STRANGE EXPERIENCES. (Received June 16, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 15. Alcock and Brown were 16 hours 12 minutes on their - journey. _ . Arriving at the wireless station at Clifdon, they circled- round the aerials,-; looking for a landing place, and finally slightly damaged; the machine in landing in a bog. The Marconi staff rushed to their assistance and found Brown dazed and Alcock deaf from the shock of landing. The staff escorted the aviators triumphantly, receiving them into their house, where they soon fully recovered. Brown states that thev were constantly in a thick fog and mist. They sometimes found themselves flying 11.000 feet high, and at other tivjes upside down ten feet from the water. DIFFICULTIES WITH WIRELESS. (Received June 16, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, June 15. '. Alcock and Brown are well and in good spirits after their 16 hours’ flight. A wireless message states that a propeller blew off shortly, after leaving St,, John’s. Their wireless was much jammed by messages not intended for the machine. —Ays.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MARKING THE ROUTE. LONDON, Juno 7. Interviewed, Tower, the commander of the United States transatlantic flight on NC4, said: “I predict that within five years there will be a chain of international lightships, each being a meteorological station, which, will patrol the ocean along the transooean air route. This will mean a large initial expenditure, but will be worth while, as lightships will bo able to aid vessels as well as airships. Such a patrol would put transatlantic flying on a substantial basis. Th© first chain could bo established via the Azores, since that is the best flying course, but a chain between Newfoundland and Ireland is also practicable. A lightship every 500 miles would; be necessary.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

NEW YORK, June 8. The New York Times’ St. John’s correspondent states that the under-car-riage of the Sopwith machine, dropped by Hawker upon leaving Newfoundland, had been landed' by the schooner which found it off the Grand Banks.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

SUCCESSFUL AIRMEN,

NO WORSE FOR THEIR EFFORT

(Received June 16, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, June 15. The Viokers-Vimy aeroplane was due to arrive in Ireland at noon. The weather was ideal.

A later message says that Alcock and Brown are in the best of health and spirits! Their worst ' trouble, _ was landing in boggy ground at Clifden, County Galway (not Clifton). The fuselage was buried at the nose. . Alcock, interviewed, said: “We were tired of being alone <jn the fog and drizzle. Sometimes we discovered'that we were flying upside down.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.