WEIR'S PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 137, 11 June 1932, Page 9

WEIR'S PROGRESS.

LEISURELY TRIP HOME. BATAVIA, June 10. The Australian airman, Mr. J. N. Weir, who is attempting to fly to England, left Batavia at 7.30 a.m. yesterday for Palembang. Carrying a bag of golt clubs with which to while away any dekye on his journey, the 24-year-old Scottieh-boin pilot. James N". Weir, is making his trip to England entirely in a leisurely fashion, with daily stages of about 400 miles. Although he line been in Australia 12 years, it was only two years ago that he became the first pilot to qualify from the Adastra Airways, Sydney. Hie flying time totals about 3DO hours, a good deal of which was done in the Australian National Airways service between Sydney and Brisbane, The 'plane usd by Mr. Weir is a historic one. Originally owned by Major de Havilland, and widely known as Prudence 11., it later (as the Golden Quest) became famous as the machine in w,hjcn Messre. Pittendrugh and Hamre were lost for six weeke in the barren MacDonnell Ranges. Reconditioned, repainted black and silver, and christened Edith after its present owner's mother, the 'plane, has a flying range of 1000 miles, with a total fuel capacity of CO gallons. Supplies have been organised along the usual route by the Shell Company of New Zealand.