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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0492.PDF
FLIGHT, WUv 27, 1932 THE ATLANTIC CIRCUMNAVIGATED : Two views of the Dornier Do.X moored off Calshot. These pictures give a good idea of the height of the propellers above the water line, where they are well protected against spray. The use of the lower wing stumps as boarding platforms is also well brought out. (FLIGHT Photos.) The Do.X Returns gross weight was about 55 tons, which was about the same as at the start of the outward flight last year. For the first five hours or so after the start all went well and the weather was fine The Do.X flew quite low over the sea, as with her great load of petrol there was no point in wasting fuel in gaining height, but she then ran into bad weather, clouds and rain, and climbed to 1,500 ft. to try to get above the rain. Horta, in the Azores, was reached after dark, and in fog, and Captain Christiansen very wisely decided that to alight under such circumstances would mean running an unjustifiable risk. He, therefore, steered out to sea again and succeeded in finding a clear patch where there was no fog. The great machine was brought safely on to the sea, and proceeded under her own power, and guided by her searchlight, towards Horta, the harbour of which was reached and entered safely and the machine moored. The next day, May 22, the Do.X refuelled and flew across to Vigo on the west coast of Spain, the flight being made at an average speed of 100 m.p.h. in a strong cross wind. On May 23 the Do.X, after refuelling at Vigo, headed for the English coast, towards which she had to fight her way against a strong north-westerly wind. The machine flew over Calshot about 7.15 p.m. and then headed up Southampton Water to make a circuit of Southampton. Coming back from there the Do.X made another half-turn and alighted into the wind, up South ampton Water. By 7.30 she was ready to moor. A curious mishap very nearly resulted in serious damage to the boat. In passing the mooring rope to the tender a man fell overboard and the machine, with all her engines stopped, began to drift with wind and tide towards the jetty at Calshot. Frantic efforts by the engineers got one of the Do.X's engines started just in time, and she was able to claw her way to clear water and safety. On her return flight the Do.X carried a crew of 14, including one woman, Mrs. Strassmann. It had been hoped that there would have been an oppor tunity for a certain number of English people to make a flight in the Do.X, but this was not found possible, as she was urgently requested to proceed towards home with out delay. The machine left Calshot at 10 a.m. on May 24, with Berlin as her next port of call. Flying via Hamburg, Berlin was reached at 6.30 p.m. and the machine moored on the Miiggelsee. 460 WHEN she reached Vigo, on the coast of Spain, during the afternoon of May 22, the Dornier Do.X flying boat (12 Curtiss " Conqueror " engines) had completed a circuit of the Atlantic. It was on January 31, 1930, that she set out from Lisbon on her outward journey. At Las Palmas she sustained damage which kept her there for repairs until May 1, 1931, when the boat reached Bolama, in Portu guese Guinea. Again a long wait followed, but on June 4 the machine left the Cape Verde Islands, and on June 5 Fernando Noronha. reaching Port Natal, in Brazil, in the afternoon of the same day. After the Atlantic crossing the Do.X flew to Bahia on June 18, and arrived at Rio de Janeiro on June 20. When visits had been paid to various towns in South America, the Do.X headed for North America, her journey from Rio showing the following dates: Para, on August 8; Port of Spain, Trinidad, on August 19; San Juan, Puerto Rico, on August 21; Miami, Florida, on August 22; Charleston, South Carolina, on August 25; Norfolk, Virginia, on August 26; and New York, on August 27. The stay in America was prolonged by various forms of unpleasant ness. The machine was struck by lightning on Septem ber 14, but did not sustain any damage. Then the lawyers got to work, alleging some patent infringement, and con fiscation was threatened. Over this part of the sojourn in America it were, perhaps, better to draw a discreet veil. For her return flight the Do.X slipped quietly out of New York on the evening of May 18 and moored for the night in Long Island Sound. The next morning early (5 a.m.) the machine took off for the flight to Newfound land, which was reached without incident, only to dis cover that fog made it impossible for the machine to reach St John's, and the refuelling base established there. There was nothing for it but to hunt for some sheltered bay where it should be possible to take on board a fairly large quantity of fuel. Such a bay was ultimately found, but as the fuel had to be conveyed many miles a whole day elapsed in fuelling. However, later in the day the fog cleared and it was possible for the Do.X to reach St. John's and complete her refuelling there. The long delays prevented a start being made until the morning of Saturday, May 21, when, after a run lasting nearly two minutes, the Do.X managed to get into the air with more than 6,000 gallons of petrol on board. Her
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