AERIAL FEAT.
CHICHESTER'S HONOUR
Trophy Presented By Prince of
Wales.
NAVIGATION TRIUMPH.
(United P.Ai—Electric Telegraphs-Copyright)
(Received 1 p.m.)
LONDON, November 26,
In the presence of many famous pilots, including Miss Winifred Spooner, Miss An.y Johnson and Sir Alan Cobham, at the annual meeting of the Empire Air Pilots' Guild, the Prince of Wales presented Mr. F. C. Chichester, the New Zealand aviator, with the Johnston Trophy for the year's best feat in civil aerial navigation. The Prince said he had had sufficient experience in flying in different parts of the world to appreciate the great responsibility of air pilots and navigators. Theirs was a profession that gave valuable and courageous service. Mrs, Johnston; the widow of the RlOl hero whose memory the trophy perpetuated, was presented to the Prince, who afterwards had long talks with the pilots, discussing air problems. f Mies Amy Johnson congratulated Mr, Chichester, whom she last met in a Japanese hospital where the New Zealand airman was recovering from injuries received in a crash at Katsuura. Miss Johnson at the time was flying to Russia via Japan, and called in to wish him good luck. The flight that won for Mr. Chichester this high honour was his trip across the Tasman via the Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands.
ATLANTIC FLIGHT.
Hinkler Flying from Brazil to
West Africa.
-SURPRISE TAKE-OFF.
(Received 9.30 a.m.)
RIO DE JANEIRO, November 26.
An Aero Postal© message from Port Natal to-day stated that Mr. Bert Hinkler, the famous Australian airman, started from there at 9.52 a.m. on Wednesday on a flight across the South Atlantic to Dakar, French West Africa, a distance of 1500 miles. The airman, whose take-off came as a surprise, has not been heard from since he left Brazil. Should he eucceed, he will be the first aviator to fly the South Atlantic west to east.
Casual to a degree, all Hinkler's flights have been spectacular. When in 1928 he set out ion what was to be the first definite record solo flight from England to Australia, he said unconcernedly, "I'm off to visit the folks in Bundaberg." The sleepy little town in Queensland was where he learnt his first aircraft lessons, before the war./He joined the Naval Air Service in Britain in 1914, and saw much service on the Italian front and in Flanders. He was awarded the D.S.M. and the Croix de Guerre. While in England after the war he served a period with the mechanical staff of the Sopwith Company, and several of his inventions and introductions have been utilised by the Royal Air Force. He early conceived the idea of flying to Australia, and for nine years worked to that end. He received a tumultuous welcome from Australia on his arrival within 15Yz days from England. That record stood for two years, and has only been beaten three times altogether. Last May the first word of an intended Atlantic flight leaked out, when the airman flew from Toronto to New York, where he denied the rumours. However, five months later, in October, he flew from New York to Jamaica, thence to Maracaibo (Venezuela), Para (Brazil) and Port Aleza, where he was detained by the Brazilian authorities a 6 his visas were pot in order. The British Consul secured his release, and / he flew on to Port Natal, near Pernambuco, where he was given a permit to fly over Brazilian territory. }
LONG-DISTANCE 'PLANE.
BRITISH MACHINE'S FLIGHT.
RUGBY. November 26,
The Royal Air Force Fairey-Napier monoplane which is to be used in an attempt on the long-distance record flight to Capetown about Christmas, left Malta yesterday morning in continuation of its journey from Egypt. It reached Mar-' seilles early in the afternoon after a flight of nearly 1000 miles. It will continue the journey on Friday.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1931, Page 7
Word Count
629AERIAL FEAT. Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1931, Page 7
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