LONG DISTANCE AVIATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17131, 18 June 1927, Page 7

LONG DISTANCE AVIATION.

WILKINS’ NEW PROJECT. EUROPE VIA ALASKA. NEW YORK, June 17. A message from Ketchikan, Alaska, says Captain 11. G. Wilkins, the wellknown airman and Arctic exprorer, is planning an adventurous flight. Flying alone he propeses to leave Fairbanks, Alaska, laic in the summer and proceed to Europe via Greenland. lie will stop in Greenland to obtain fuel, and then be will attempt a nonstop flight to Europe. FLIGHT TO INDIA. ALTERATION IN ROUTE. The start of the non-stop flight from England to India which is to be attempted by Flight-Lieutenants Carr and Mackworth is still delayed. The airmen are awaiting favourable weather. Owing to the monsoon season the airmen have decided to slightiy alter their route, flying in a north-easterly direction across' the Sind desert instead of to Calcutta. NEW AMERICAN ENGINE. 300 MILES AN HOUR. WASHINGTON, June 17. The Navy Department announces that it is compleling a plane which wilt be capable of a speed of 300 miles an hour. It will contain what is considered to be the largest airplane engine ever built. It has 24 cylinders, and is of 1250 h.p. An effort will be made to exceed the speed record, which is held by a French airman, of 278.4 S miles an hour. The engine will be adaptable for use in the heavy bombing “Kland” scaHONOUR FOR Dl PINEDO. BRITISH AIR FORCE CROSS. LONDON, June 17. King George has conferred the Air Force Cross on Commander the Marchese Ui Pincdo. LATER. EN ROUTE FOR AUSTRALIA. VAN LEER BLACK'S PROGRESS. ARRIVAL AT CONSTANTINOPLE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received June 18, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 19. Mr Van Leer Black, the American millionaire aviator, who left Amsterdam on Wednesday in a large Fokkcr machine, and staled lie was going to Australia, has arrived at Constantinople.