IN TWO HOPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 267, 10 November 1937, Page 7

IN TWO HOPS.

BRITAIN TO SYDNEY. Attempt Likely to be Made Before Next May. SINGAPORE HALFWAY MARK. LONDON, November 6. A flight non-stop from England to Singapore and then non-stop from Singapore to Sydney is likely to be made before next May. The aviation correspondent of the "Evening Standard" states that the Air Ministry is considering the use of a Vickers Welleslev long-range bomber for the purpose. The machine would carry a crew of two and a wireless installation. The engine would be throttled back to about 55 per cent of full power, to ensure minimum fuel consumption. The average speed for the whole flight would probably not exceed 140 ni.p.h., compared with ISO ni.p.h. under normal conditions. 7000 Miles Non-Stop. The Great Circle course, from England to Singapore, is 0701 miles, although the actual distance which would be covered would be nearer to 7000 miles. The successful completion of such a flight to Singapore would give Britain the world's long-distance non-stop record. The present non-stop record is 6750 miles, claimed by Russia for a flight I from Moscow to San Jacinto (California). It has not yet been officially recognised. The flight would be made before May, ill order to avoid the monsoon season. After refuelling at Singapore, a nonstop flight to Richmond (New South Wales) would be a matter of 4300 miles. It would be the first time that an aeroplane had flown from Singapore to Sydney without stopping. The total time of the flight from England to Singajtore would be approxi- | mutely .">0 hours, and from Singapore to : Sydney approximately 30 hours. ' It is pointed out that the purpose of the flight would be to capture the | non-stop distance record. The machine | would be flown on to Australia merely I as a 150 th anniversary gesture. A much faster flight could be made

TASMAN HOP?

Trip bv Imperial Airways' Flying Boat. PROPOSAL FOR EXPERIMENT. (Kocrivi'il 11.30 a.m.) LONDON". Xovemlier ft. It is understood that Imperial Airways. Ltd.. is contemplating an experimental flying boat trip to New Zealand from Australia. Nothing definite has been arranged.