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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0288.PDF
m MAY 22, 1924 PROGRESS IN THE BIG FLIGHTS ROUND-THE-WORLD FLIGHTS Kaduk Ydkuiat AH Dutch Harbour I " ^ropavlcvsk Wraiiqcll Vancouver Fusan 5diita Monica USA Starting pant>^ Marchif (Outer Rir#) ' Winni] Shanghai Nau\ork Cabhk British Starting poH" /Vorrt 25" (Inner Ring) Athens ROUND-THE-WORLD FLIGHTS : This sketch-map has been prepared to show at a glance the position of the British and American crews as known up to Tuesday evening. It is proposed to publish this map from time to time, and to mark on the two dark rings by white spots the approximate position reached by the British and American aviators. The direction followed by the Americans is clockwise (i.e., east to west), and that of the Vickers " Vulture " anti-clockwise (west to east). The Americans left Santa Monica, California, on March 17; the British crew left Calshot (Southampton) on March 25. Reports on Tuesday stated the Americans (except Maj. Martin) had reached Yetorofu Island (N. Japan), while the British were at Calcutta. THE past week's outstanding feature in connection with the flights round the world was undoubtedly the splendid flight accomplished by the Americans in their 900-mile dash across the Pacific Ocean to Japan. This section of the world-route was considered to be the most critical and dangerous of all, and now it has been successfully and safely passed the Ameri can team (which now consists of the three Douglas-Liberty machines piloted by Lieuts. L. H. Smith, L. Wade and Ii. H. Nelson, and their mechanics) should, given reasonable luck, make good progress over the remainder of the route. They have, however, the possibility of encountering the dreaded monsoons of the East still before them—for they are now about four weeks behind their schedule time. As regards the British flight, Squadron-Leader Macl.aren, having received a temporary engine from Iraq (a high- compression Napier "Lion"), has got as far as Calcutta, where he is now awaiting the installation of a new " Lion " which was sent out to him from England. As reported last week, he arrived at Nasirabad from Parlu on May 13. He had originally intended to proceed to Allahabad that same day but a leaky radiator delayed the flight until the next morning. The departure from Nasirabad on the 14th was made at 6 a.m., and six hours later they landed at the Bamraoli aerodrome, just outside Allahabad, having flown a distance of about 500 miles. Weather conditions during this lap were good until they approached Allahabad, when the)? encountered some severe " bumps." At Allahabad. Squad.-Ldr. MacLaren met with further bad luck. Having got over the radiator troubles, the start scheduled for 5.30 a.m. on May 15 was once again delayed, this time owing to water in the petrol. This was accounted for in a cable received from Squad.-Ldr. MacLaren by the proprietors of " Shell," which reads as follows :— " Am entirely satisfied that petrol supplied India up to standard Shell aviation. Delay Allahabad due to accu mulation sand and water in gravity tank through storms.— MACLAREN." However, this trouble was put aright by the following morning, May 16, when at 5.18 a.m. the. journey was resumed. After an uneventful though somewhat cold flight of 488 miles, they landed at Dura Dum aerodrome, Calcutta, at 11.15 a.m. As previouslv stated, they are remaining at Calcutta until the new engine from England is installed. The reason for changing engines—the present one is running splendidly— is that the high-compression type requires a special benzole fuel, which will not be obtainable along future stages of the flight. Now let us follow the progress made by the American team. After waiting for several days at Chicagoff, Attu Island, for fine weather, Lieuts. Smith, Wade and Nelson started off for the big flight across the Pacific, in spite of the fact that they had received a warning by wireless from the U.S. destroyer " Ford," that the weather conditions were unfavourable. Reports are decidedly vague as to the times 288
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