SLOW-COACHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 249, 21 October 1933, Page 9

SLOW-COACHES.

AIR MAIL 'PLANES. Anglo-Australian Contract Condemned. OTHER NATIONS MUCH FASTER. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyrigbr) (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 20. "We shall be wedded to these slowcoaches for five years," says the "Evening Standard" aviation correspondent in a critical analysis of the minimum speeds specified in the contract for the air mail services between Britain and Australia in relation to the Dutch scheme which provided three-engined machines with a maximum speed of 230 miles an hour, a cruising speed of 180 miles and a range of 1600 miles. "Despite the flights of Smith and Ulm," the correspondent .states, "we shall be condemned to the operation of the Australian ■ route at speeds which other countries are now leaving behind." The Air League has cabled Mr. Ulm: "Well done. Your flight is almost an insult to the" Anglo-Australian air mail schedule." SPEEDING-UP PLANS. TO AUSTRALIA AT 240 M.P.H. LONDON, October 18. Commenting ou Sir Macpherson Robertson's offer to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in connection with the Melbourne Centenary air race, an air expert told "The Sun" that wonderful times could be made to Australia with suitable machines. < At least three British factories could immediately build a 'plajie to reach Melbourne safely in 64 hours' flying time, to cost about £20,000. Most experts favour a two-engined (each of 600 horse-power) two-seater with a cruising speed 'of 230-40 miles an hour, and a maximum of 270, with a range of 2000 miles, to reach Melbourne in four days, allowing for eight hours daily on the ground, but'the pilots would have little opportunity for sleep. The first 'piano would cost £20,000 and the second only £10,000. British manufacturers at* reluctant to build fast, powerful machines like the American, owing to the Empire passenger-mail policy. The death of a wealthy young man in a flying accident, who, with a friend, recently commissioned such a 'plane with a cruising speed of 210 miles an hour, for the purpose of pleasure flying and record breaking, led to the cancellation of such an order. Captain Edgar Percival, designer of the Percival-Gull monoplane in which Kingsford Smith flew to Australia, told the special representative of "The Sun" that a single-engined machine of 700 horse-power and a cruising speed of. 180 miles an hour and a range of 2000 was the most suitable type at the practicable price of £5000. Sir Macpherson Robertson's offer, lie said, was marvellous and would give Britain an excellent chance, otherwise there was little chance of a British machine entering capable of meeting foreigners. The aeronautical correspondent of the "Evening News" says that a 12-seater American-Douglas with a cruising speed of 180 inilas an hour and a maximum of 200 is intended to fly to Australia in two days and a half in 1934, the crew of three to take turns at the controls and fly by night and day in hops of 2000 miles. The cabin will be converted into a great petrol tank. The flyers may postpone the start in order to compete in the centenary race. ENGINE TROUBLE. Ulm's Departure from Derby Delayed. MANY CONGRATULATIONS. (Received 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Mr. C. T. P. Ulm advises from Derby, West Australia, that he has been delayed by engine trouble and the hour of his departure depends on the time occupied rectifying it. He will try to get away in the morning and expects to fly non : stop to Mascot in'2l hours. The King, who is at Sandringham, was informed of the success of Mr. Ulm and his party. English friends of the chief pilot are delighted over his achievement as demonstrating the practicability of flights from England to Australia within one week. The flight vindicates Mr. Ulm's skill and daring in increasing the wing length of his machine by five feet, adding to the lifting power and giving it an additional range of 400 miles without in the slightest degree impairing its efficiency or speed. The success of such a revolutionary experiment has amazed even the builders. Flying-Officer Scott, Lord Wakefield and others are eulogistic, but they agree that the flight is not quite comparable to the solo flight of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. CENTENARY AIR RACE. "SMITHY" TO BE COMPETITOR. (Received 10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith announces that he will enter for the Melbourne centenary air race from England to Melbourne. He will not fly alone, however, but will choose a partner who will act as co-pilot and navigator. ATLANTIC SERVICE. COLONEL LINDBERGH'S VIEWS, LONDON,* October 20. Colonel Lindbergh, the famous American airman, in an interview published in the "Daily Telegraph," says be considers it would be quite possible to start a summer service over the North Atlantic air route from America to Europe, but not On a commercial basis. The difficulties in the way of a winter service are great, but perhaps can be overcome.