WOMAN'S FLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 259, 2 November 1931, Page 7

WOMAN'S FLIGHT.

AMBITIOUS SCHEME.

Start on Attempt to Beat Record

To Capetown.

TO EGYPT IN QUICK TIME.

(United P.A.— Mectric Telegraph-Oopyright;

(Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 1. "Cheerio,, Mummy, I'll be back soon," said Miss Peggy Salaman, a pretty fair-haired debutante, 19 years of age, when climbing into the Puss Moth aeroplane Good Hope, at Lympne Aerodrome. She set out at 10.30 on Friday night on an attempt to break the record, 6 J days, for a flight to Capetown.

Despite bitterly cold weather, she was wearing only g> suede pullover and flannel trousers.

Gordon Store, assistant instructor at the London Air Club, accompanying Miss Salaman as navigator and second pilot, jumped in, and the- 'plane rose slowly and disappeared in the darkness.

Miss Salaman said she was tired of living in luxury, and told a journalist that she was going to nave a great adventure, "but don't make too great a song about it, at least until I get there." She* expressed faith in the Good Hope, which won Lord Wakefield's prize in the King's Cup race for the fastest time put up by any machine. It is now fitted with a metal propeller, enabling it to make a speed of 131 miles an hour.

"I intend flying for fifteen consecutive hours," she said. "Mr. Store will sometimes take over the controls. I .have two revolvers, an alarm clock, chewing gum to stop ieakage in the petrol tanks, and also sun helmets and shorts. I am taking an . evening gown to make whoopee- in Capetown, although I do not like dancing and smoking and other modern feminine crazes. ;

"I do not regard this flight as extraordinary. Women have done far more courageous things. I am determined to do or die, but I am going to do."

Mrs. Salaman said, f'l am as Peggy is confident she will get there." Later advices give the progress of Miss Salaman's flight. She reached Rome at 9,44 a.m. to-day, leaving for Athens at 9.50 a.m., after-which she proceeded to Cairo, and after a short stop continued on her way.

BUTLER SETS OUT. Plight to Australia. . . '< , (Received' 10.30 a.m.) ■.'■•<"•.-■■■';;■ '' LONDON, November 1. ' A youn°- Australian airman, Mr. C. A. Butler,- left; the., Lympne aerodrome Kent, at 5.10 a.m. yesterday on a flight to Australia. Mr. Butler reached Naples and departed at once for Athens. Mr. Butler, after landing .'at Brindisi to refuel, arrived, at Athens to-day;

Mr. C. A. Butler is an Englishman, but now: of Cootamundra, New South Wales. He is to attempt to fly to Australia in less than eight days, lowering Mr. G. W. Scott's record by two days. His itinerary is planned as follows :-Marseil es, Brmdiei, Athens, Aleppo, Basra, Karachi, Jhansi, Calcutta, Rangoon, Victoria Point Singapore, Cheribon, Bima, Koepang. and Darwin. After Darwin .he will - travel by Daly Waters, Camooweal, Longreach and Oharlieville to Sydney, and later will visit every State in Australia.

Mr Butler is one of the most experienced young flyers in the Commonwealth, having flown extensively through Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria . and South Australia. Originally .an engineer at the Australian Aerial Services, betook flying lessons at Hay, New i South Wales, and later bought two-machines, m> which he and another pilot, Mr. Frank Smith, toured the continent, doing general airtaxi work. He then built a his earage at Cootamundra,- an all-metal highwing monoplane, which he completed in under six months. The 'plane to be used on the present flight is a single-motored ' Comper bwi.tt monoplane, with a Pobjoy engine, a new departure in British aeronautical design. Jt will land at from 30 to 35 m.p.h. Ihe whole engine weiglis only 130b,.which is due ta its exceptionally small size, ibis, however, tends to increase reliability and durability. All the ground .organisation for the flight has been carried through by the- Vacuum Oil Company, which has laid down supplies for the airman at all of his scheduled stops. ■'-'.;■■ SCHNEIDER PILOTS. DECORATED BY THE KING. (Keceived 1' p.m.) LONDON, November 1. The Kin<r wave ail audience to FligMLieutenants °Stainforth and Boothman, the members of the Schneider Trophy team, and decorated them with the Royal Air Force Cross. -\