TO INDIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19867, 15 June 1927, Page 9

TO INDIA

NEW BRITISH FLIGHT French Aviator D’Oisy Will Attempt Same Journey AFTER THE RECORD i STORY OF PREVIOUS FAILURE. [By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.] Received June 14, 8 p.m. (A.&N.Z.) LONDON, June 13. Flight Lieutenants Carr and Mackworth will to-morrow, weather permitting, start on a non-stop flight to India, in a Hawker-Horsley bomber carrying petrol in tanks sufficient for 4,500 miles. The event seems like developing into an international flight, as Lieutenant d’Oisy leaves Le Bourget to-morrow for the same destination. A dramatic account is now, for the first time, disclosed of how the British non-stop plane flying to India fell in the Persian Gulf, practically in sight of the goal which would have given the world’s record to Britain. It is revealed that the ’plane fought for the greater part of the distance against a wind which did not handicap the Atlantic fliers. Descent at Night. During the night, when flying across Iraq the ’plane battled against a head wind. Nevertheless, it was then ahead of scheduled time. Lieut. Carr was controlling the machine in the darkness at a great height whilst Lieut. Gillman was asleep. Owing to the intense heat, Lieut. Carr removed his helmet, which it is believed, caused a slight deafness. A few minutes before the breakdown he reduced the engines’ revolutions in order to economise fuel. The engine developed an unusual note, and Lieut Carr wakened Lieut. Gillman, and warned him that he feared the engine was failing them. Almost instantly it ceased, and they then commenced a forced descent in the darkness in the Persian Gulf. This was skilfully executed, the machine alighting in the water perfectly. Important Test Flight. Another important test flight is due to begin to-morrow, when bombing machines of the Royal Air Force will commence flights round England which will continue for 48 hours. Four bombing squadrons will be represented by eight machines each, and in all there will be 64 pilots. Guns will be carried, but no ammunition. The circular route to be covered is about 400 miles long. The test is designed to estimate the relative proficiency of bombing squadrons and to carry out training in the most practical I way.