RECORD FLIGHT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 14, 27 October 1934, Page 5

RECORD FLIGHT

BRITAIN TO DARWIN. NEW ZEALANDERS' SUCCESS. JOURNEY IN A LIGHT 'PLANE. HEWETT NOW IN AUSTRALIA. GOOD TIME ALSO TO HIS CREDIT. Ignited Press Association—Copyright). (Received This Day, 1.35 p.m.) DARWIN, This Day. .The time put up by M. C. McGregor and H. C. Walker from England to Darwin—five clays 15 hours eight minutes —'constitutes a.record for a singleengined aircraft. The previous record, held by! Sir Charles Kingsford. Smith, was seven days four hours fifty minutes. • McGregor's actual flying time from Mildenhall to Darwin is calculated at eighty-one hours forty-six minutes, and he had an excellent chance of winning the handicap race, which chance, was however, reduced considerably by the delay last night owing to dust storms and a forced landing. A VERY MODEST ACCOUNT. ONLY MINOR TROUBLES OCCUR.

DARWIN, October 26. Five days 15J hours out from Mildenhall, M. C. McGregor and H. C. Walker (New Zealand) in their Miles Hawk, arrived at Darwin at 9.20 a.m. to-day (New Zealand time) and left for Charleville at 10.37. The best time before the Melbourne air race, for a light 'plane, was seven days four hours by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, and the best for any type six days seven hours by C. T. P. Ulm. McGregor and Walker flying the smallest air race machine yet to reach Australia, their .'plane being only about the same size as the well-known de Havilland Moth. • Both men were pleased with their experience in crossing the Timor Sea. McGregor said they would have been in Australia on Thursday had it not been necessary to dismantle the cowling of the engine at Koepang. The pilots were more than a little tired, but a cold wash and a hot breakfast revived them. McGregor was very modest in describing the flight, which occupied 5 days 15$ hours from London; "We had a very good trip and there were no incidents," he said. "I could do with a little sleep. Both of us have had practically none since we left London, but,we managed to get a short nap yesterday night while waiting for the cowling to be overhauled." When it was pointed out to McGregor that his time from London was a really excellent performance, for a light, single-engined machine, he merely replied: "It feels"like a month. W r e want to push on as quickly as possible. There is no sense in wasting time." , , ~, , McGregbr added that they did not encounter any-major trouble. They were bogged at Alor Star, where the mud seemed to be giving trouble to most of the 'planes. . . "The flight over the Timor Sea this morning was a very good one, but at one stage we ran into a heavy rainstorm and, in order to dodge it, had to climb to a very great altitude, said McGiegorl "Night flying does not worry us a bit now, because we have done so much of it on this flight.

NEW ZEALANDERS SAFE. MCGREGOR AND WALKER. FLYING TO CLONCURRY, (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. McGregor and Walker, the New Zealanders, concerning whom some anxiety was felt as they were overdue at Cloncurry, are safe. They are flying to Cloncurry. PASSED CAMOOWEAL. (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) . CHARLEVILLE, This Day. McGregor and Walker are safe. They passed Camooweal at 8.30 this morning, en route to Cloncurry. ' LATE ARRIVAL CAUSES CONCERN -DELAY BY WEATHER. LIVELY. (Received* This Day, 10.15 a.m.) CHARLEVILLE, This Day. At two o'clock this morning there was no news of M. 0. McGregor and H C Walker. They are now five hours overdue at Cloncurry: Although the absence of news regarding the New Zealandsrs is sufficiently serious to have caused a certain amount of misapprehension, it is not altogether alarming. . Leaving Darwin at nine o'clock yesterday morning, the aviators took live hours to cover 384 miles to Newcastle Waters their speed thus being less than 80 miles an hour. As the special aerial mail was delayed by head winds and poor visibility and had to make a forced landing at Avon Downs, 50 miles from Camooweal, it seems certain that the New Zealanders experienced similar conditions. Wireless unci telephone station? at many outlying nlaces are closed daring the night and it is' impossible to com-

municate with certain centres until ! morning. It must be remembered that ■ there has not been any definite report of McGregor and Walker having left Brunette Downs. The air mail pilot who reported the New Zealanders' landing at Brunette Downs merely stated they had inquired at Brunette for the route to Cloncurry and did not report that they had taken off. If McGregor landed after the wireless communication had ceased afc Brunette Downs and decided to remain for the night, the decision would not be known until morning. The country between Brunette Downs and Caruooweal is. monotonous and featureless, but toward Cloncurry it is rather dangerous and in many parts hilly, with few facilities for forced landings. Assuming that McGregor pushed on to Cloncurry and maintained a speed of 80 miles an hour the New Zealanders should have covered the 350 miles in about four hours and should therefore have landed at Cloncurry shortly after nine o'clock last night. If they were forced down in desert country, they should have been able to land without seriousi injury but a forced landing in the hilly section would be fraught with danger.

McGregor and Walker were entered bv the Manawatu Aero Club, McGiegr is one of the best-known pilots m New Zealand. In the Great War he walin.the famous 58 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, led by MajoW .A. Bishop. In New Zealand, after the war, he kept up his flying at the ie» fresher courses of the New Zealand Territorial Air Force till light 'planes began to be produced, when he was fot a time pilot to Hamilton .Airways. Later he was engaged m joy-ridmg work for some time, in which he carried •some, of the experimental air mails. In 1931 he attempted to establish a regular service between Christchiirch and Dunedin, Rising a DH 50 machine of the Air Force. Though he maintained his timetable with unfailing regularity, the venture did not catch on? and was abandoned. The Manawatu Aero Club engaged him as instructor, and his headquarters have been at Palmerston North for about two years. At the Manawatu Club s first "pageant he had a-n accident in a stunting display which kept him m hospital for many months. He has now been flying again about, a year. Mr. Walker, his co-pilot, is the club captain of the Manawatu Club, and is considered a steady and capable pilot. Their Miles Hawk machine is a lowwing monoplane with open cockpits, and is stated by cable messages to be the only open machine in,the race. The first models were produced only last year,-and had a cruising speed of 100 m.p.h. Later models have been faster, and theirs is reputed to make 150 m.p.h.

ARRIVAL AT DARWIN. ■ SECOND NEW ZEALAND 'PLANE. HEWETT AND KAY LAND. (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) DARWIN, This Day. J. D. Hewett, C. E. Kay and F. Stewart (New Zealand) arriyed here from Batayia at 8.30 (local time). They left Koepang at 3 a.m. (local time). DUTCH 'PLANE BURNED. COLLISION WITH A BEACON. TWO OCCUPANTS ESCAPE.. (Received This. Day, 10.55 a.m.) ALLAHABAD, October 26. The Panderjager mailearrier, on taking off after repairs, while taxi-ing to the edge of the aerodrome at dusk, collided with a motor-car carrying a beacon light. It was immediately set on fire. G. T. Geysendorffer and C. J.. Asjes (Holland) leapt out uninjured. The Pander jager was destroyed. i THE STODARTS LEAVE BATAVIA.

(Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) BATAVIA, October 26. D. E. and K. G. Stodart left for Rambang at 1.53 a.m. (local time). PERSONAL BAGGAGE DISCARDED DANES ON BOGGY TAKE-OFF. TENTH ATTEMPT SUCCESSFUL. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) SINGAPORE, October 26. Hansen and Jensen (Denmark) arrived at 7.5 p.m. Owing to the boggy ground at Alor Star Hansen rose only after the tenth attempt. At first it seemed impossiple to get off, but after dispensing with all personal baggage the airmen got away successfully. They are experiencing magneto trouble. They hope to proceed to-morrow, when the baggage arrives and the magneto has been repaired. C. J l . Melrose left.for.Batayia at 5.32 p.m. (Greenwich mean time). THE ARREST IN PERSIA. "MUST TAKE CONSEQUENCES." POLICE VIEW OF FORCE}!) LANDING. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) KARACHI, October 26. J. H. Wright and J. Rolando (United States) have abandoned their flight. Wright says that an air-lock in the petrol feed caused the forced landing at Mohammerch and as the run-

way for the take-off was too small Polando,'with the kit, started to walk to Abadan, seven miles away. Persian police arrested both, declaring that they were permitted to land at Bushire or Jask only. If forced to make a landing elsewhere they must take the consequences. The aii-men complained, but an. armed military, sentry was posted over them. DEMAND FOR EXPENSES. DEPRIVED OF CHANCE IN RACE. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) KARACHI, October 26. Wright and Polando complain that they wore badly treated by the Persians. They were given only) a sandwich and nothing to drink. They are complaining to the American Consul, demanding that Persia refund the expenses thev incurred in the race as they were baulked of their chances .ot winning the handicap. JONES AND WALLER LEAVE. ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE RECORDS. TIME FOR RETURN JOURNEY. ALSO FOR HOMEWARD TRIP. (Received This Day, 1.55 p.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. K. Waller and O. Cathcarfc Jones left at 8.5 a.m. They are endeavouring to make the following records:— , Melbourne to London. London—Melbourne to London. Darwin to London. They intend to make a non-stop f flight* to Charleville, thence going to ]>arwin, from which place they will depart at dawn to-morrow. SAME ROUTE AS IN RACE. (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, October 26. O. Cathcart Jones and K. Waller expect to leave Melbourne on the return journey to England to-morrow. Jones said he would probably adopt the same route as in the air race, but he would not require to report at the control points.—British Official "tt ircless. MELROSE AT BATAVIA. , (Received This Day, 1.35 p.m.) BATAVIA, October 2Q. O. J. Melrose (Australia) arrived here at 6.30 a.m. UNHONOURED AIRMEN. AUTHORITIES AT VARIANCE. MELBOURNE, October 26. The public are anxious to honour all the competing airmen, but the authorities are clashing as to whether, the event should be a triumphant procession or a banquet. Some of the authorities claim that the public will have sufficient opportunity to see the aviators at an Air Force pageant at LavS erton on November 10. Early action is necessarv if anything is to be done as the winners are already making plans for tl"e early future. The public who have shown much enthusiasm, will be disappointed if the aviators' exploits are not suitably recognised by the authorities.

INTERMENT AT NAPLES. FUNERAL OF GILMAN AND BAINES. AIR FORCE AND FASCIST TRIBUTE (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) NAPLES, October 26. The British ConsulrGeneral (Mr Fisher), representing the British Government, Colonel Hetherington, representing the Air Ministry and Aero Club and the entire British colony attended the funeral of; H D. Oilman and J K C. Baines, the- New Zealand aviators, at the Anglican Church at Naples Tha church was decorated witn the Italian and British colours. Masses of flowers covered the coffins, • wliicn were carried by Italian Air Force officers, who also formed a guardl o honour. During the service Miss Edith Wilson, Oilman's fiancee, placed he engagement ring on the coffin and knelt beside it, g^ef-stricken-After the service Fascist militia cai Hed the coffins to the Anglican cemetery, where the bodies were interred. UNCERTAINTY OF MOLLISONS. STODARTS ESCAPE DISASTER, : LONDON, October 26. Anxiety was felt at Alor Star for the Australian airman C. J. Melrose, who was two hours and,a half overdue in his Puss Moth on his flight from Victoria Point, However, he earned out his expressed intention of avoiding Alor Star, where he said he did not like landing, and he arrived at Singapore on Friday at 2.35 p.m. Mollison arrived at Calcutta on Inday. ' They said that they might continue slowly to Australia or they might return to England. Amy Mollison added that no praise was "too high for C. W. A. Scott. D. E. .Stodart and OEL G. Stodart ••(England) left Singapore at 8.05 a.m. on Friday for Batayia, They nearly met disaster at Alor Star the previous

day when they landed in six inches of water. Their Airspeed Courier nearly tipped up when taking off in darkness on Friday morning and had to be dug out of the mud. Batavia reported their arrival at 1.17 p.m. . J. D. Hewett, C. E. Kay and F. Stewart (New Zealand) arrived at Rambang at 10 a.m. and left for Koepang (550 miles) at 10.45. M. Hansen and Jensen (Denmark) who. arrived at Alor Star at 1.52 p.m. (G.M.T.) on Thursday and had intended leaving again at dawn, aro held up indefinitely owing to trouble with the' Gipsy 111. engine of their Desoutter.

COLONEL FITZMAURICE. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE RACE. SPONSORS STATE THE CASE. LONDON, October 26. The Irish Hospitals Trust has issued a statement which declares: "J. C. Fitzmaurice explained to the Air Race Committee, only two hours before his departure to England, that he had not had time for a full-load test, which he informed the American Government he would complete in England. "He offered to perform a test at Mildenhall Aerodrome, but the Race Committee and also an Air Ministry official regarded it as unnecessary. Nevertheless, while the official was informing Fitzmaurice that everything was in order except his pilot's license,, lifebelts and Verey flares, the committee was cabling to Washington about the airworthiness of the 'plane and did not tell Fitzmaurice. "The committee offered to let Fitzmaurice fly at a gross weight of 8350 lb, subject to disqualification if he won and the American certificate was satisfactory. "Fitzmaurice accepted, whereupon the committee withdrew the offer and informed him that he cOuld fly only at 54581 b, and also refused his offer to fly as a sporting event." The Hospital Trust adds: "The American cablegram substantiated Fitzinaurice's statements. Thus every effort by Fitzmaurice and his sponsors to keep the matter a sporting event was turned down by the committee 'and the stewards."

Fitzmaurice, a colonel in the Free State Air Force, came into fame in 1928, when, with the Germans, Koehl and Huenfeld, he made a westerly crossing, of the Atlantic, to be lost in fogs off Newfoundland, aoid, eventually, to be forced down on Greenly Island, near the entrance to the St. Lawrence. .

The Bellanca machine which Fitzmaurice and E. W. Bonar will fly is a low-wing single-engined moaioplane with wing flaps and retractable undercarriage, designed specifically for the Melbourne centenary air race. It is'estimated to have a maximum speed of 255 miles an hour, and a cruising speed of 235 miles an hour with a ramge of 3000 miles. Christened Irish Swoop, the machine, which cost £9260, was entered in the race by the Irish Hospitals Trust, and has been described as an American 'plane bought with Irish sweepstake profits "accumulated from English money.

GIFT TO ALBURY HOSPITAL. PARMENTIER'S THANKS FOR AID MELBOURNE, October 26. In appreciation of the help given by the citizens of Albury to the Dutch pilot, Mr K.-P. Parmentier, the Royal Dutch Air Line has announced that it is giving one thousand guilders to the Albury hospital. A message of thanks from the Dutch Government has been received by the Netherlands Consul.

MORE RACES PROJECTED. UNITED STATES AND FRANCE. LONDON, October 26. _ Sir MacPherson Robertson has evidently inaugurated a series of air races which will spread throughout the world. The " 'Sun-Herald" News Service learns that Mr Rex Martin (AssistantDirector of the U.S. Burcou of Air Commerce), who is at present visiting Great Britain, will on his return recommend that America hold an _ international air race in 1935, starting at New York, thence down the Atlantic coast to Patagonia, returning to the Pacific coast, thence via Canada, finishing at New York. "Le ,Soir" emphasises the fact that the proposed French air race is due to disappointment that French 'planes and pilots did not compete in the Australian race, .and expresses the opinion that the race will probably be held from Paris to Saigon and back, at the end of 1935. .