IN BITING COLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 34, 10 February 1930, Page 7

IN BITING COLD.

N.Z. AIRMEN SET OUT. Two Aviators Leave England for Australia. PISA THE FIRST STOP. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 0. In a biting cold wind with the aerodrome lit by a huge searchlight and enormous flares Flying-Officers PL L. Piper and C. Kayo, of New Zealand, now members of the R.A.F., took oft' at 6.30 this morning on their flight to Australia. The airmen hope to reach Pisa to day. 1 The flyers have obtained three months' leave in order to visit their homes and have purchased a de Soutter three-seater uir-taxi of the latest pattern with a cruising speed of 100 miles. They have altered it to a two-Oeater and installed an extra petrol tank in place of the third seat. This will give the monoplane a range of 850 miles. The subsequent itinerary will be: ' Malta, Tripoli, Bagdad, Karachi, Eanyoon, Koepang and Darwin. If the flyers reach Egypt in less than three days tliep will attempt to beat Mr. Bert Hinkler's record of 15J days to Australia. They do ' not intend to fly across the Tasman Sea, 1 but will be content to reach Sydney by > air. FORCED DOWN. MEETING BAD WEATHER. (Received 2.30 p.m.) PARIS, February 9. Flight-Lieutenants Piper and Ivaye. of New Zealand, arrived at Dijen at 12.50 on their aerial journey from England to Australia. Bad weather delayed their departure till 2.53. They descended at Sathonay, near Lyons.