FAST ATLANTIC PASSAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20783, 19 July 1937, Page 11

FAST ATLANTIC PASSAGE

EXPERIMENTAL PLAN TRIED OUT SERVICE PROBLEMS NOT YET SOLVED a United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, July 16. The Imperial Airways flying-boat Caledonia arrived at Foynes (Ireland) after her return flight from Newfoundland at 10.32 a.m. The flight lasted 12 hours 7 minutes, compared with the American Clipper’s time of 12 hours 24 minutes f-r the same eastward flight. The Caledonia, which took off from Botford (Newfoundland) at 5.25 p.m., travelled at an average speed of 175 miles an hour. The American Clipper left Foynes (Ireland) for Newfoundland at 7.25 р. on its return Atlantic flight. The Caledonia and the American Clipper passed each other at 3 a.rr„ averaging respectively 140 and 105 knots an hour. Captain Arthur Wilcocksen,. commander of the Caledonia, which was favoured by following winds, sent a wireless message that he hoped to arrive at Foynes at 10.40 a.m. A message from St. John, Newfoundland, stated that the American Clipper arrived at 6.49 a.m., making the crossing in 15hrs 38min. Messages of congratulation received by the pilots of the Caledonia and the American Clipper on the completion of the double flight across the Atlantic included telegrams from the Air Minister (Lord Swinton). The average head wind encountered b the Clipper on the westward voyage did not exceed five miles hourly. Her time from Foynes, Ireland, to Boston, Newfoundland, was 16hrs 24 min. It is under stood a double crossing will take place on July 29. According to present plans the Imperial Airways flying boat Cambria will be engaged on that occasion. Later on in the year the Caledonia will make another flight. The North American News Alliance has received a message from Commander Cray of Clipper 111 at Botwood, stating that despite the highly satisfactory nature of both crossings, the problem of the establishment of a trans-Atlantic service is far ’ solved. Due to variable weather conditions, more than one route must Be flown, and surveyed. “We are not able," he says, “to give a satisfactorily glowing picture of what flying the Atlantic is like. That will come later when the Atlantic represents a course, instead с. a mathematical problem.”