FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1929
1929 - 0268.PDF
FEBRUARY 7, 1929 DRIVA FLYING A Section of FLIGHT in the Interests of the Private Owner, Owner-Pilot, and Club Member FROM NEW YORK TO MIAMI IN A BRITISH LIGHT AEROPLANE AT least two British pilots are now spreading propaganda in America in the interests of British light aeroplanes and aero- engines. They are Lady Heath and Capt. W. N. Lancaster, who flew to Australia from England in an Avro " Avian " (Cirrus) in 1927-28 with Mrs. Keith Miller. An Aero Show in New York is now taking place until February 13, and the A.D.C. " Cirrus " engine is being sponsored by Lady Heath, who is also managing a women's aviation section. Capt. Lancaster is doing good work with his Cirrus-Avian. There was an air meeting in Miami in January at which over 150 machines attended from all parts of the North and South American continent. Lady Heath's Gipsy-Moth was the lowest-powered machine there, but it got placed in two events. It came fifth in the OX.5 class out of 11 entries, and second in a dead stick landing contest when the machine had to be brought down from 1,000 ft. The pilot who won the event finished with his propeller boss on the centre of the mark, which was 10 ft. square. The warmed up, the'plugs burnt, the magnetos and carburettor covered, and boiling water poured over the cylinder heads and induction pipes. Good time was accomplished when the flight was resumed, and on reaching Langley Field at 1 p.m., they found Capt. Lancaster there, deep in conversation with old friends. The Army was very kind to the air travellers. Fayetteville was the next stage, but there was not sufficient fuel to take them safely beyond Salem, which was fifty miles short of the destination. A landing was effected in a field close to a road and railway, and fuel was obtained from the generous owner of the field. As the site was small, Lady Heath decided to test a take-off without her passenger, to judge the amount of clearance. It was 5 p.m. when they flew into Manchester, the airport of Fayetteville, and the weather was much warmer then, for which they were grateful. Lieut, and Mrs. Murphy were hosts to the travellers for the night. The Irish were met Lady Heath's Gipsy-Moth at Fayetteville at dawn during the flight from New York to Miami. The other machine is a three-engined Ford monoplane. Gipsy-Moth also won second prize for the neatest turned-out machine, despite the weather conditions it had to pass through on the way to the meeting, and Lady Heath had no mechanic. Her passenger was Mrs. Lancaster, wife of Capt. Lancaster. They were the guests of Commander Gamble, who is the representative of the National Aeronautical Association of Jacksonville. A day after the air meeting came the official opening of the Pan American Air Service to South America. Machines taxied up in succession to the broad entrance where an awning stretched to the door of the passenger cockpits. The service to Nassau was also started, and was the first official flight between America and an outlying part of the British Empire. It seems to be a forerunner of a great series of official trans-Atlantic flights. Lady Heath and Mrs. Lancaster flew to Miami from New York in January, accompanied by Capt. Lancaster on an Avro " Avian." It was very cold and uncomfortable in the air at first, and as they drew south it became very bumpy and a strong head wind prevailed. The former forged ahead and then decided that it would be impossible to reach Washington, so a landing was made at the Philadelphia Municipal Airport for petrol. That field was under repair and a low survey had first to be made before a suitable patch could be found. Washington was finally reached just before dusk, the landing being made at Bowling Field. They were frozen •with the cold and so was the machine. On the following morning it took 4 hours and the help of the complete Navy to get started again. The oil had to be let out twice and everywhere, commented Lady Heath, which made her feel America to be like home. On the following day, the railway tracks were traced the whole way into Charleston, and a landing was made at the wrong airport, but the Navy was tolerant, and allowed them to continue with a fill-up of petrol, after signing many forms. Half-an-hour later came Savannah, the flight having been over desolate swamps, which were better to have behind one than in front. A landing was made in a field of very soft earth, and the farmer was annoyed, but only temporarily. He responded to their apologies with refreshments and good petrol, and the loan of two darkies to assist to tow the machine to firmer ground. Owing to the soil clinging tena- ciously, the ascent was thrilling for a few moments. A course was set for south again over more marsh and swamp, which decided them to alter course for firmer ground. Bruns- wick was passed on the west. For the whole day, their flying time amounted to 5J hrs., and 12 hrs. 35 mins. for the entire flight from New York. Very low clouds were prevalent the next day, January 5, the ceiling being no more than 50 ft., and there were also heavy rains to prevent the departure from Jacksonville. One attempt was made to ascend, but it was abandoned simultaneously with the attempt of a mail 'plane pilot. Later, the clouds lifted and a start was made, heading along the coast southwards. A terrific bump was encountered at the end of the flying 104
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
