AMBITIOUS PROJECT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 125, 8 March 1930, Page 5

AMBITIOUS PROJECT

NEW ZEALANDER'S FLIGHT

FROM ENGLAND TO AUCKLAND. STARTS AT DAWN ON TUESDAY. • EX-ASHBURTON RESIDENT. (United Press Association— Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, March «. Mr C P. Parkerson, of Auckland, hopes to take off from. Lvmpne Aerodrome at dawn on Tuesday. He-aims to reach Rome the first day. / The machine is fitted with the maximum petrol capacity, sufficient for a range of 20 hours, with a view to a florht from Sydney to Auckland. Mr Parkerson said he did not think so much of flving to Australia, lhe Sydney-Auckland flight was. his real 'objective;. , ■ „+;+«. . The 'plane such a quantity of petrol that there is only sufficient space left for a few .sandwiches, a tin of milk, and an out-size revolver.

' Mr Parkerson was born at Temuka, and lived for years at Ealing He attended the Ashhurton High school foi 'three years. For many years he has resided at Auckland. He joined , the "•'Auckland.--Aero .Club some time ago, and in SeDtember last went to Engx fend, where he took up an intensive course of flving with an aero club in 'preparation "for a flight from England to New Zealand,, . . J .;. He will use a Gypsy Moth, similar to the one used by Mr F. Chichester m his epic flight to Australia His determination to fly across the Tasman Sea involves a huge_risk because ot Ins small 'plane. When the Southern Cross came to New Zealand -from. Sydney it took ]4J hours, and having a following wind averaged 120 miles an hour Full out. Mr Parkerson's 'plane could not do more than 102 miles an hour and much less than that at the 1 start because of the big load of petrol.