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Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0071.PDF
FEBRUARY 4, 1926 THE SPANISH TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT ONCE again has the Atlantic been crossed by air, for Comandante Franco, accompanied by Capt. Ruiz de Alda (navigator), Lieut. Duran, and engineer Rada, who left Palos de Moguer, Spain, on January 22, has succeeded in reaching Pernambuco, Brazil, in the Italian-built Dornier- Wal flying-boat, fitted with two Napier " Lion " engines. As briefly reported last week, they successfully completed the first stage of about 900 miles to Las Palmas "(Canary Is.) on January 22, when bad weather prevented a resumption of the flight until January 26. They then completed another stage, of roughly 1,000 miles, to Cape Verd Islands. In the early hours of the morning of January 30, they set out on the most difficult section of the journey—a flight of 1,500 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to Fernando Noronha, an island some 300 miles off the coast of Brazil. just before eight o'clock that evening they were sighted from the island of Fernando Noronha, and shortly after passed overhead in the direction of Pernambuco. They had not gone far however, when they were seen to descend on the sea and signal for assistance. It appears that as they were running short of fuel and weather conditions were getting somewhat rough, they decided it would be unwise to proceed. Eventually they succeeded in getting back into Fernando Noronha, but the sea was then so rough that boats were unable to reach the machine and take them ashore. Through- out the night, therefore, Comandante Franco and his com- panions was forced to remain on board the seaplane, " Nc Plus Ultra." On the whole, the machine rode out the storm well, but one of the propellers was damaged. However, Comandante Franco had succeeded in accom- plishing the second longest non-stop over-sea flight yet made (the longest was that made by the late Sir John Alcock on the occasion of his flight from Newfoundland to Ireland (1,890 miles) in 1919) having covered a distance of 1,500 miles in less than 14 hours. At 3 p.m. next day they made a start for Pernambuco, 300 miles away. Just as they were within sight of their goal the propeller, previously damaged the night before, refused to carry on any longer, and they had to make a hasty con- clusion (for about 100 miles) of their flight on only one engine. They did not, therefore, fly round the town of Pernambuco before landing, as originally intended, but landed just out- side. Boats at once went to their assistance, and after the machine was safely made fast to its moorings, the airmen were taken on board a Brazilian destroyer and brought ashore. They were accorded a wonderful reception at Pernambuco success of the flight so far has caused immense enthusiasm both in Spain and South America, and Comandante Franco has received numerous congratulatory messages, including a cablegram from King Alfonso. Except for the engines and minor details the " Ne Plus Ultra " is similar to the Dornier flying-boats used by Amundsen in his recent Polar flight. It has been specially equipped for this Transatlantic trip with a Marconi AD6 aircraft telephone transmitter and sJ ORTH ! ! s ATLANTIC THE SPANISH TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT:— Sketch map showing the route of the Spanish flight from Spain to South America. receiver of the type which has been adopted as the standard wireless telephone fitting for British civil aircraft, and which has rendered good service on commercial airways in many 'Photo. : Marconi Co. THE SPANISH TRANS\TL\NTIC FLIGHT: The Dornier-Wai metal mono flying-boat, fitted with two1HE SPANISH TRANSAILAM^ ^ ^^ ^ ^^ gpain) across the Atlantic, to Pernambuco. parts of the world. A Marconi type 14 direction finder has also been fitted for navigational purposes, and the Marconi Company has arranged with its affiliated wireless companies in South America to keep in touch with the aeroplane when it approaches South America and as it is flying along the coast from Pernambuco to Buenos Aires. "ii their arrival, enormous crowds lining the three miles of quays cheering enthusiastically, whilst ships and tugs in the harbour supplied the triumphal jazz march. The total distance flown up to now is about 3.800 miles, and the total flying time amounts to 35 hours 20 mins—or at an average spt'ed in the neighbourhood of 100 m.p.h. The 59
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