AUSTRALIANS' FLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 260, 2 November 1928, Page 7

AUSTRALIANS' FLIGHT.

Hurley's Bowler Hat Amuses Natives.

HEAD WINDS CAUSE DELAY,

SYDNEY, November 1

Captain Frank Hurley and FlyingOfficers Moir and Owen, who are attempting to fly to England, left Oodnadatta, South Australia, in the monoplane Spirit of Australia, at 5.30 a.m. to-day with the intention of trying to reach Wyndham to-night. The 'plane passed over Alice Springs, Central Australia, a few hours later. It then had nearly 1000 miles to cover. Subsequently a message from the airmen stated that strong head winds were being experienced and would probably cause a stoppage of the flight for the night at Daly Waters. Captain Hurley said he was weary of the sights on the desert, the heat and the droughty, desolate stock runs. He and his companions were cordially received at Oodnadatta by white people, Afghans and aboriginals. The bowler hat of Captain Hurley created more fun among the Afghans and aboriginals than did the monoplane. The distance from Sydney to Wyndham is 2113 miles. 1 SEAPLANE CARRIER. BUILT IN AUSTRALIA. (Received 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The seaplane carrier, Albatross, of 6000 tons, was launched recently at the Cockatoo dock and is the first naval vessel built in Australia since the war. She undergoes trials next week. Aeroplanes will be catapulted or lowered to the water surface for the take-off as circumstances require. The ship, being of different character from anything hitherto built in the Commonwealth, many details of construction had to be worked out by the dockyard staff without the guidance of patterns. ANOTHER ATTEMPT. AMERICANS' BERMUDA FLIGHT. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) NEW YORK, November 1. From Norfolk, Virginia, yesterday the aeroplane Flying Fish was flown to Manteo, North Carolina, whence Cap- ■ tains Lancaster and Lyon and Mr. Putman hope to depart for Bermuda to-day in their own machine.

Captain Lancaster says he has advanced the point of departure to Manteo in order to save weight in fuel on the flight.

AIRCRAFT STRIKE.

PASSENGER 'PLANE DELAYED

(Australian Press Assn. —United Service.) WARSAW, November 1.

Only one passenger aeroplane left Warsaw yesterday owing to a strike of the staff of the Polish Aerial Transport Company. The employees demanded a 25 per cent increase in wages and this was refused. •