TASMAN MAIL FLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 102, 2 May 1935, Page 7

TASMAN MAIL FLIGHT.

" Smithy's" Plan to Connect N.Z. With London Direct. TWO 'PLANES TO CROSS. SYDNEY, May 1. Sir Charles Kingsford Smitli announces that a second monoplane will accompany the Southern Cross on the Tasman flight on May 14. The intention is upon the return flight to bring New Zealand into direct air mail contact with London for the first time. Sir Charles will pilot the Southern Cross with Mr. John Stannage as radio operator. Captain Taylor will pilot the other machine, with Mr. S. Colvin as radio operator. The machines will fly in formation to New Zealand.

MYSTERY 'PLANE

REPORTED ROBOT FLIGHT

NEW YORK, April 30.

A mystery transport aeroplane of new design, owned by the Trans-Continental and Western Air Lines, reported to have been navigated by a mechanical pilot, arrived at New York at 0.5!) p.m. today, after having made a record commercial flight from Los Angeles in 11 hours 5 minutes, non-stop. The average speed was 220 miles an hour.

AIRMAN'S WIDOW.

MRS. ULM TO GO TO AMERICA,

LONDON, May 1

Mrs. Charles Ulm sailed by the (Mariposa from Sydney to-day for Honolulu for the purpose of expressing her personal thanks to the heads of the American Navy and Air Force for their magnificent part in the search for her late husband, when he disappeared on the trans-Pacific flight. Mrs. Ulm will then proceed to America, where she will remain for some months. Later she will bo joined by Mrs. Littlejohn, widow of another member of the ill-fated crew of the lost monoplane. REJECTION OF OFFER. BRITAIN'S PRIZE 'PLANE. LONDON, May 1. The "Daily Telegraph" aviation writer, referring to" the Air Ministry's prize of £25,000°f0r a special type of aeroplane, states that the aircrafc industry has rejected the oiler in its present form. There have been no entries. The prize must be much bigger or the plans altered, or there will be no competition.

The prize of £25.000 has been offered bv the Air Ministry for the best aeroplane produced by a British firm in a stated time. The machine will be required to have a cruising speed of at least 200 miles an hour, to be a 12 to 14-seater, strictly economical in fuel consumption with a large pay-load and to embody comfort and reliability.