OUT OF RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 240, 10 October 1934, Page 9

OUT OF RACE.

KINGSFORD SMITH.

dogged by ill-luck.

SEHIOUS DAMAGE TO 'PLANE,

ULM'S OFFER OF HELP,

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 3. Last Saturday at C a.m. (September 09) Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Captain P. G. Taylor, in the Lady Southern Cross, took oIT from Mascot on the fust stage of their flight to England. Up to the day before there had been 110 certainty that "Smithy" could get away, bnt within a few hours ]]0 learned that his machine had passed the local tests and that the Turkish Government would permit him, conditionally, to fly over its territory. So two great difficulties were surmounted, and the only important question left to decide was whether the certificate - „ ra nted by our Civil Aviation Department would be accepted as adequate by the authorities at Home controlling the • race. • On Friday "Smithy" wired to Mel- ' bourne to ask the Centenary Air Race Committee if this certificate would serve J the purpose. But the committee could only answer that the matter wa3 outside their province and in the hands of the Royal Aero Club, which is makjn" all preparations for the start in England. There followed a few hours more of suspense, and' in the meantime an urgent appeal had been cabled to England for the acceptance of the certificate. At last, when hope had almost "one, "in 'lie deep dead and middle of I the night" tliere came a London cable— the certificate would be accepted and "Smithy's" machine could start in the i race. No Time Lost in Starting. v The news arrived at 1.38 a.m., and by • two o'clock " Smithy * was on his way to Mascot. And so, after a farewell to r liis wife and his mother and the friends who, in spite of the impossibility of fixing the hour of his departure, had gathered to see him off, "Smithy" started northward at G a.m. and in two minutes the Lockheed—"travelling like a rifle bullet," says one bystander—was out of sight. 4s "Smithy" was at least a week behind the time-table that he had originally ; fixed, it was necessary to travel fast. L Of course, in spite of the gloomy outlook, all necessary preparations had been made beforehand, but the prolonged and " exasperating delays over the certificates n had left him barely time for a chance of . reaching England in time. All the ? 'planes intending to compete must report ready for the race at Mildenhall by 4.30 *' p.m. on October 14. The race does not start until October 20, but the inter-

veiling days will be fully occupied with tests and mechanical examinations. When the Lockheed started from Mascot 6 -it had a clear fortnight to run before /- the "line up" at Mildenhall, and most people seemed to imagine that it would * be easy for " Smithy," 1 who expected that the race itself would not take more • than four days, to get Home in time. Wisjied to Inspect Route. But it must be remembered that his ; object in bringing his machine to Aus-u-tralia and flying back was to make a complete reconnaissance of the route, U and more particularly to familiarise liim3'. self with the conditions at the four extra, stopping points—in addition to the ■ i five main control points —made necessary by the reduced petrol loading of his machine. The investigations to be made, and the organisation to be carricd out at the stopping points, to ensure petrol supply and other service, would render it impossible to get to England . in this way in less than nine or 10 days , —and this without allowing for accident ' or other adverse contingencies —unless the purpose of this trial flight was to be entirely sacrificed. It is evident, therefore, that "Smitliy," starting on September 20, was "cutting it fine," even if everything went well from that hour onward. But as it turned out, an evil fjite seemed bent 011 dogging him to the " end. , " It was "Smithy's" intention to make Darwin within the day. Hie distance »s •' about 2100 miles, and as his machine has a cruising speed of close 011 200 miles per hour, he expected to reach Darwin by 4 p.m. But he had to face " heavy head winds, and it took him four hours' battling with the gale to reach Charleville. He took off again an hour later, still hoping to reach Darwin by nightfall; but the wind grew stronger, and by 2.30 he was forced to • land at ~ Cloncurry. There he stayed for the night, intending to start again at II a.m. on Sunday. Cause of Damage Unknown. But'in making the usual examination 'i, of his machine after landing, he was ; 'surprised and dismayed to find that it had developed a serious defect. There -was a dent on the nftse-cowling —a thin a aluminium ring which is an essential factor in tho stream-lining of the [.'plane and the cooling of the engine— and several cracks had developed in the metal. Whether the injury was due in the first instance to contact with a stone in landing or taking off—though there were no scratches on the metal —or to collision with a bird in the air—though there were 110 signs of feathers or blood—"Smithy" could not tell. But the machine was damaged, and even if the cowling did not fall off—thereby reducing the speed of the 'plane and • possibly throwing an unexpected strain 4 Upon it—"Smithy" decided that he could take no chances, and that the flaw must ■t be repaired. This could not be done ft Cloncurry, and so the airmen had ■ to start back for Mascot again. No doubt the decision was a sound one. When the news reached Sydney, John Stannage, who has accompanied the great airman on many of his flights, said: "It's another example of 'Smithy's' wise caution." "Smithy" himself lias explained his comparative immunity from serious accidents by the meticulous care that he expends over his machines and his consistent refusal to take

unnecessary risks. Though the disappointment must have been bitter, he > ( tiore it philosophically enough. "It Would not be pleasant," he said, "to "" lave the cowl flying to pieces over the Timor Sea"; and he busied himself at £*' once with wiring instructions to his aerodrome staff at Mascot. Unfortunately he could not hurry back, for the vibration of the 'plane at high speed might "". intensify the trouble. The airman had .'..therefore to "loaf along" at about 120 'pilules per how, and they did not get -.back to Mascot till about 1.30 on Monday afternoon.

" Fatigue " of the Metal. A further examination showed that the damage was more serious than was at first imagined. New brackets had been made in preparation for the 'plane's return, but in the opinion of Wing Commander Wackett and other experts the damage was due to "'fatigue"—that strange disorder which affects metals exposed to heavy strain or constant vibration—and the whole of the cowling had to be replaced. This job—the biggest of its kind ever attempted in Australia—was successfully carried out. But as the work went on it became clear that repairs could not be effected in time to give "Smithy" a reasonable chance of getting Home by the appointed date. First Thursday, then Friday, was fixed for a second take-off, but by this time "Smithy" had been forced to realise that lie was facing insuperable obstacles, and that he must reconcile himself to defeat. And so to-day "Smithy" dispatched a telegram to the Air Race Committee in Melbourne, formally withdrawing from the race. Expressing his deep regret that delays and difficulties have now made it impossible for him to participate, he offered "sincerest good wishes for the winner and the safe carrying out of the most spectacular race in the history of aviatoin." Of course, this message was sent only after careful and prolonged . consideration, and consultation with the local experts, who strongly supported it. Wing-Commander Wackett has stated that 'disappointing and almost humiliating" as the decision was, it was nevertheless the wisest course that "Smithy" could take. If, as a result of these prolonged delays, the machine could not be submitted to the necessary careful overhaul at Home before the race, so as to give the flyers a reasonable prospect of finishing, "the risk to life and machine would not be justified." That was the verdict, and most people will agree with "Smithy" that he is the best judge of the risks that would have to be run, and the chances of success. Appeal for Extra Time. Of course, efforts were made, even at the last moment, to give "the world's best airman" a final opportunity to represent his country in this great contest. The race officials in Melbourne suggesaed that even though the preliminary "line up" was fixed for Octobar 14, there was little doubt tliat Jin appeal 011 "Smithy'*" Account would, umler tircse exceptional circumstances, secure an .extension of time. Mr.

Charles Ulm, "Smithy's" old comrade, who is just now in the United States, cabled offering to "pick up" a firstclass machine for him, fly it to England, and await him there. Of course, "Smithy" could "fly light" to England in seven or eight clays, as Melrose has just done, and still be there in time to start in the race. But there is still the difficulty that the whole object of the preliminary flight was to give the airman a chance for a leisurely survey of the route; and when it became evident that the Lockheed repairs could not be finished before Friday, or even Saturday, there was only one course to take. 'Smithy" has been forced to rcject all offers of assistance, and he and Taylor are now concentrating 011 a project which may reconcile him to liis defeat a d at the same time help him to indemnify his financial backers. He may fly the Pacific to America, or make a new record flight to England, or try to beat the time of the race winner; but he has something else in view which be will disclose in a fortnight's time. Meanwhile lie has the sympathy of the people of Australia and of aviators throughout the world to console him in his disappointment. It has since been announced that the Lady Southern Cross will be flown across the -Pacific to the United States, leaving Brisbane for Suva about October 20. The distance is 7312 miles, and "Smithy" hopes to complete the journey in four or five days. The longest hop will be from Suva to Honolulu, 3144 miles.