MISSING AIRMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 288, 5 December 1935, Page 11

MISSING AIRMEN.

OFFER TO SEARCH.

MR. W. M. O'HARA'S WISH.

LEAVE WITH DISCOVERY 11.

His own services free and the offer of his aeroplane to the proposed Australian expedition to the Antarctic to search for Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth and Mr. T. Hollick Kenyon has been made to the Federal Government by the New Zealand airman, Mr. W. M. O'Hara, who flew to Auckland from Sydney in October. Last night Mr. O'Hara sent a cable to the Federal Minister of Defence, Mr. R. A. Parkhill, offering his services free and his machine. A cable from Canberra on Monday said that the Federal Cabinet had under consideration the dispatch of an expedition to the Antarctic to search for the missing airmen. It was stated that cablegrams had been sent to the British Government asking for permission to use the British research ship Discovery 11., which is duo at Fremantle on December 18. "I thjnk it would be a "good thing for a New Zealander to bo included in tie expedition," said Mr. O'Hara this morning. "If the Discovery makes the voyage to the South she will probably leave from Dunedin, and in that case—if my offer is accepted—l will fly my machine there, or to any other port in New Zealand from which the Discovery may leave.. lam certain my machine.would be suitable, for it has a flying range probably as great as any machine in Australia." Flying Range. Mr. O'Hara's machine, in which he flew the Tasman, is a British Klemm Eagle, powered with a single de Havilland, 130 horse-power "Gipsy Major" engine. Its flying range is about ioOO miles, and it could be easily and quickly fitted with skis. Top speed is moro than 145 miles an hour, and cruising speed, with a full load, about 125 miles an hour. The machine lands at between 40 and 50 miles an hour.

Having received confirmation of the time of his arrival over Awakifio from the chief postmaster at New Plymouth, Mr. O'Hara now claims the record for the trans-Tasman crossing. His time from Gerringong to the New Zealand coast was 11 hours 30 minutes. The previous record was held by the late Flight-Lieutenant C. T. P. Ulm, who crossed from New Zealand to Australia in 1934 in 11 hours 58 minutes.

Mr. O'Hara said his machine was now ready for any flight. When landing at Mangere after his arrival from Australia the under-carriage was damaged, but repairs were carried out by the ground staff of the Auckland Aero Club and' satisfactory tests were carried out yesterday by Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan. Mr. O'Hara is completely satisfied with the repairs, especially in view of the fact that the retractable undercarriage was something new for the staff to handle. Certificate Sought. Mr. O'Hara intends immediately to apply for a certificate of airworthiness for his machine. His own pilot's ticket was suspended following his Tasman crossing, and he says that he will not fly the machine until the ticket question has been finally settled by the authorities.