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Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0243.PDF
APRIL 27, 1922 am THE LISBON TO RIO TRANSATLANTIC ATTEMPT Flight Delayed by Mishap A MISHAP in alighting on a rough sea has resulted in temporarily postponing the completion of the splendid flight undertaken by Capt. Sacadura Cabral and his navigator, Capt. Gago Coutinho, in a Fairey seaplane, Rolls-Royce " Eagle " engine. It appears that in alighting near St. Paul's Rock the machine was badly damaged in the rough sea, and that unless another machine, or at any rate spare parts such as floats, etc., be sent, the flight will have to be abandoned. .We learn, however, that one or the other is to be sent, and that the gallant officers will thus be able to continue the flight so splendidly begun, with, let us hope, better success. It may not be without interest to summarise briefly the facts relating to the first stages of the flight. Leaving Lisbon on March 30, at 6.55 a.m., the " Lusitania," as the machine has been christened, arrived at Las Palmas, Canary Islands, at 3.30 p.m., having covered a distance of approximately 900 miles in 8£ hours. Unfavourable weather conditions prevented a start being made until April 2, when, the weather moderating a little, the machine got away. It had not, how ever, proceeded far before the weather again became very bad, and the machine had to come down in the bay of Gando. It was some little time before news of the machine reached this country, and some anxiety was beginning to be felt, although it was generally hoped that the Fairey would be able to weather the storm. A couple of days were now spent waiting for the weather to im prove, and on April 4 another start was made at 8.30 a.m., the machine reaching St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands, after a flight of about 10 hours' duration. A period of tempestuous weather, quite unusual for this time of the year, delayed the " Lusitania " at the Cape Verde Islands until April 17, when the machine was flown from St. Vincent to Santiago, another island of the Cape Verde group. The next morning, before dawn, a start The Lisbon-Rio Flight : Sketch map of the route. The distances marked are approximate only. Brazilian coast. It was realised that difficulty might be experienced in reaching Fernando, and a Portuguese man-of- war had been stationed at St. Paul's Rock, a very small piece of rock situated almost on the line and in approximately 29° west longitude. It will easily be realised that to have " made " this tiny rock in the wastes of the Atlantic Ocean must have required no mean navigational skill, and it is to the credit of Capt. Coutinho that he succeeded in guiding the machine so unerringly. A slight miscalculation might easily have resulted in the loss of both machine and crew. The reports dealing with the facts which led to the wreck of the machine at St. Paul's are somewhat vague, but it appears that in alighting the floats were damaged, a high sea running at the time. Presumably it was found that the petrol was running short, and it was then decided to alight, in order to take on board fresh supplies from the Portuguese vessel stationed at the rock. That the machine should have been damaged is greatly to be re gretted, but it is hoped that the remainder of the trip may be com pleted without accident as soon as the necessary spares, or a fresh machine, can be sent out. In the meantime, what has already been accomplished is a very fine per formance indeed, and deserves to rank among the historical flights of the world. It is a credit not only to the pilot, and, especially, the navigator, but also to the machine and engine. The Fairey seaplanes have established an enviable reputation for robustness and long life, and the Rolls-Royce en gines already have to their credit such flights as the London to Australia, Cairo to the Cape, flight across the Atlantic (non-stop), etc. Thus the British aircrafts industry cannot fail to benefit from such a splendid performance, even if the crew of the machine are not British. We are certain that no one, least of all British pilots and navigators, will be grudging in their praise of what has already been accomplished, and that was made from Santiago, and the machine commenced its all will join us in wishing the two gallant Portuguese officers iongest trip, to Fernando Noronha, a small island off the every success on the last stages of their memorable flight. The Lisbon-Rio Flight : The Fairey seaplane " Lusitania," Rolls-Royce " Eagle 8 " engine, taxying. London's War Scars repaired such stones as were not hopelessly damaged were " THE scars that London received during the air raids carefully replaced, and thousands have visited the spot to are rapidly healing, and there will soon be few of these . look with interest at the scars. Men have recently been at historic marks left. Such as these are, are treasured as work on the pavement, and fear was felt that these damaged honourable wounds, but none more so than those caused by stones would disappear, but the authorities had no such the bomb which fell at the base of Cleopatra's Needle, vandalistic ideas, and, after re-bedding, the stones have been which itself was shghtly chipped. The Sphinxes were hit laid again in their former position. So Londoners will still in several places and the paving torn up, but when it was be able to show each other these marks."—(Morning Post). 243
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