RECORD RETURNS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 9

RECORD RETURNS.

Europe and Empire Air Mail

Services.

BUSY CHRISTMAS PERIOD.

British Official Wireless. (Received 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, February 5. A record number of miles flown on overseas air routes was disclosed in a report on the operation of the European and Empire services of Imperial Airways for December.

The period is the first during which the all-up non-surcharge scheme came into general application for transport of Christinas mails on Empire routes, and big mileage figures were naturally expected.

The distance flown actually reached 1,158,000 miles. Scheduled services represented 605,000 miles, including 123,000 miles flown on the SingaporeSydney sections of the Australian route by Qantas Empire Airways, while a further 463,000 miles was flown on special Christmas mail deliveries.

INCREASED ORDERS.

U.S. 'PLANES FOR BRITAIN.

(Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 5. The Air Ministry announces that in view of the improved prospect of United States deliveries of aircraft last year's order for Lockheed general reconnaissance machines has been increased from 200 to 250, and the order for North American training machines from 200 to 400.

ATTEMPT AT RECORD.

ENGLAND TO SOUTH AFRICA.

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

LONDON, February 5.

The aviator, Mr. Alex Henshaw, who is aged 24, and was the winner of the last King's Cup race, took off from Gravesend at 3.35 a.m. for the Cape in an attempt to beat the record of Flying Officer A. E. Clouston and Mrs. Betty Kirby-Green (now Mrs. Haycock).