FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 140, 13 June 1919, Page 5

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA.

POSTPONED FOR 3 MONTHS. INCOMPLETE ARRANGEMENTS. ;Received 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, June 12. The anxiety of the crew of the Blackburn Kangaroo to start for the flight to Australia immediately revealed the utter lack of proper arrangements for attempting to win the £10,000 prize. AATien Rendel, Smith, and Maddocks entered, the authorities at the Aero Club and the Air Ministry pointed out that the route had not been surveyed, no supplies of petrol were available, and the flight would be difficult owing to the monsoons. It would be impossible to promise any help east of Delhi. The war was still on, and France and Italy did did not welcome promiscuous flying, and there was an even chance of having to face anti-aircraft guns on the Continent. The Kingaroo's crew replied that tfiey were willing to chance it.

The matter was then referred to Mr. Hughes, who held a conference, at which Senatr Pearce, Colenel Williams, and Commander Perrin, of the Aero Club, and Colonel Buckley were present.

The conference fully discussed the organisation for the flight, and decided that at present the arrangements were such as would not afford a reasonable hope of success, and the flight must be postponed until September. Mr. Hughes, interviewed, summed up the decisions of the conference thus: Firstly, the Aero Club will be judges of whether the conditions are complied with; secondly, all machines entering must have a living radius of five hundred miles; thirdly, they must carry a competent navigator; fourthly they must carry the spare parts necessary; fifthly. prior to the flight the Aero Club should be satisfied that properly marked landing places and petrol arc available throughout the route; sixthly, in order that the competitors should not be financially prejudiced by the. delay the Government would enrol them in the Australian Flying Corps.—(A. and N.Z.) The Australian Government will afford the competitors facilities for attending the navigation course which the Air Ministry is arranging. Any other competitors" whose machines the Aero Club consider airworthy are entitled to similar privileges. —(A. and N.Z. Cable.)