RACE TO AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 7

RACE TO AUSTRALIA.

Two 'Planes Start Attack On Hinkler's Time. SMITHY DUE THIS WEEK. .. . LONDON, October 6. Three airmen have started on nights to Australia to-day. Flying-Officer C. J. Chabot and Major C. M. Pickthorne left Croydon at dawn, and will fly by day and night. They are in a Puss Moth. They were preceded yesterday by Flight-Lieutenant C. W. Hill in a Moth with a Gipsy engine. All hope to beat the record. Chabot said their flight was organised not for personal gain, but to raise money for an Empire air fund, to be administered by the society of that name to finance flights and restore .the prestige of the Empire. If they achieve a spectacular flight to Australia in half the record time, the proceeds from reports for the Press and films will go to inaugurate the fund. By night flying they hope drastically to reduce tho time. They will sleep only during refuelling. ■Hill, who left from Lympne, said he was making the flight during his leave in order to see his parents in Queensland. He Avill do some night flying. Wing-Commander Kingsford Smith has arrived at Heston from Manchester in readiness for his flight to Australia. He hopes to take off on Tuesday. He will use an all-metal Avro Avian, named Southern Cross Junior.