R.A.F. OFFICERS HOPE TO MAKE WORLD’S RECORD

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18947, 18 December 1929, Page 1

R.A.F. OFFICERS HOPE TO MAKE WORLD’S RECORD

NON-STOP FLIGHT TO AFRICA BEGINS.

(United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.} (Received December 18, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 17. A Royal Air Force Fairey Napier monoplane, piloted by Jones-Williams, took off from Cramwell Aerodrome at eight o’clock in an attempt at making a record non-stop flight to Cape Town, Conditions were perfect.

(Received December 18, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, December 17.

The present long-distance flying record- is held by the Frenchman. Captain Costes, with 4912 miles.. Squad-ron-Leader A. G. Jones-Williams and Flight-Lieutenant N. H. Jenkins made an attack on the long-distance record last April. They left Cranwell Aerodrome in the same monoplane as they are now flying, but after covering 4130 miles they were forced down by shortage of petrol at Karachi, India. The weather conditions over a large part of the route on this occasion are reported to be favourable and the airmen expect, if all goes well, to arrive at Cape Town on Thursday afternoon after a flight of about fifty-five hours. The machine was reported fifty miles off the north-west coast of Sardinia at four o’clock this afternoon. The route after leaving Sardinia will be by way of Tunis, Chat 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 the 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 66i miles, more than the French figure, so that the British pilots must fly a minimum of 4975 miles measured on a great circular . course, to secure the record for Britain. This means that they must reach a point in South-West Africa about thirty miles south of the Kunene 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, and to meet such an emergency the airmen are equipped with sporting guns and ammunition. They have also with them curious scimitar-shaped knives, by means of which they will be able to cut their way through the jungle if necessary.