DISTANCE FLYING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 84, 19 January 1938, Page 6

DISTANCE FLYING.

ROYAL AIR FORCE ATTEMPTS.

(United Prees Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) > LONDON, January 18. Preparations for attempts on long-distance non-stop flight record by the Royal Air Force have begun. A training flight will, be made toward Australia in the spring.—British Official Wireless.

APPOINTMENTS FOR TRAINING

LONDON, January 17

The Air Ministry has appointed Squadron-Leader Kellett and FlightLieutenants Hogan, Gardner,', and Comb 9 to the personnel of the longdistance development flight. They will shortly go to Cranwell to continue training and practice taking off with heavily-loaded aircraft.

' The Air Ministry, in a statement on November 25 last, emphasising the importance of long-range aircraft to civil aviation and the Royal Air Force, said: “The normal evolution of aircraft design in recent years has brought about considerable increases in range and load carrying capacity. It has been decided to continue development work by making use of the existing type of aeroplane. A Vickers-Wellesley has been selected for the purpose, and a flight of three aeroplanes of this type will be equipped for investigation and development of the technique of longrange flying in relation to both operational purposes and design of aeroplanes.

“Bristol Pegasus engines will be used with variable pitch airscrews. WingCommander O. .11. Gayford will be in command.

“It is proposed to make trial flights along the England-A!ustralia route in the spring of 1938. It is intended that one of these flights shall be made in connection "with the New South Wales sesquicentenary celebrations.”