CODOCK FLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 7

CODOCK FLIGHT.

Tasman Crossing Not Likely Before May 18. ALL TESTS PASSED. (Received 12 noon.) MELBOURNE, this day. The Civil Aviation Department does not intend to accept the suggestion from New Zealand to cancel Squadron-Leader White's flight in the Codock monplane over the Tasman. The superintendent of flying operations, Captain Ross, who participated in the Codoek's trial flights, certified both pilot and machine. Therefore Squadron-Leader White will be able to carry out the flight providing he carries no passengers for hire. The airman, who is now in Sydney, declares there is no hope of flying the Tasman before May 18.

The above cable was referred to Mr. T. S. Withers, organiser of Dominion Airways, Ltd., upon its receipt this morning. "The cancellation of the Codock flight," stated Mr. Withers, "is due purely to the reasons expressed by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in his statement of Saturday Jast, and not in any way to doubts as to the ability of the machine or pilot to make the Taeman crossing. The Australian Civil Aviation Department's attitude towards the flight confirms Sir Charles' statement that the Codock is a magnificent machine, fully capable of crossing the Tasman, while SquadronLeader White is considered one of the finest pilote in Australasia. In my opinion the cable was dispatched from Sydney prior to the receipt there of Sir Charles' cable concelling the flight and explaining hie reasons for so doing. The Australian Civil Aviation is obviously anxious to assure the New Zealand public of the suitability of both the nilot and machine for the Tasman flight, but neither of these points has ever been in question."