FIT AS A FIDDLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 272, 16 November 1936, Page 9

FIT AS A FIDDLE.

MR. CLARK AT HOME. EXPENSES OF HIS FLIGHT. CROWD DAMAGES MACHINE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Looking as fit as a fiddle, Mr. Ernie Clark reclined at his ease in the sun this morning and discussed some of the more picturesque aspects of his flight from England. The daring aviator, who had flown from England with as little fuss and publicity as possible, showed no signs of the strain that he had undergone during his last hop across the Tasman yesterday. Asked jvhether he had any bad moments during the journey out Mr. Clark said there had been one or two, but by far the worst was the take-off from Richmond aerodrome, Sydney. "The first hour and a half after taking off was the worst part of the flight," said Mr. Clark. "I had to fly blind, and I had only done about an hour's blind flying in England before, setting out. I had some quite ■ good experience." Discussing blind flying, Mr. Clark explained that the airman had to rely implicitly on his instruments. He had to resist any temptation to act in accordance with his instincts. At times he felt sure that his machine was turning and was about to go into a spin, but his instruments told him that all was well and he had to trust them. Home-made Maps. Mr. Clark explained that about the most costly essentials for a long flight were maps, and he had made his own maps. This had been a long and difficult task. Later he had constructed a roller for use on the flight. For this he had used an old chocolate box, and his home-made maps had worked splendidly. One of the most discussed aspects of private flying at present is cost. Mr. Clark admitted that it was a costly business to fly from England. Pressed for an approximate estimate of his running expenses, he said he thought that they were about £200. That did not include the price of his machine or depreciation, but covered petrol and oil and incidentals. When he arrived at Wigram last night Mr. Clark could not see the ground in spite of the flares and motor car lights. "I had to feel mv way down. I flew down the line of flares once to see that all was clear, and then' made my landinrr," lie said. "No, I could not see the crowd until it was suddenly there. I was very surprised." On his way out Mr. Clark found the natives at various out of the way places where he landed very considerate. Soon after his machine came to rest there would be a big crowd in a wide circle round the aeroplane, but no one ever attempted to touch it. Last night his machine suffered a certain amount of damage from the crowd. "People know that when a motor car is damaged it only costs a pound or two to repair it, hut they do not realise that when there is damage to an aeroplane it costs at least ten times as much," he added. As lie was leaving the reporter remarked that after all the publicity about shearing. Mr. Clark would really have to go and do some. "I think I will," came the smiling reply.