AVIATION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16732, 15 January 1920, Page 7

AVIATION.

SERVICES OF THE FUTURE(B» C»Me—Prf«* A^aoci^ion —Coprri?fct.) (Aiutraliu and N.Z. Cabl« A»oa»i»-) BRISBANE, January 14. Sir Ross Smith Anticipates seeing a 14-day air servico between England and Australia when larger and safer aeroplanes, working in relays. will be employed. BRISBANT-, January 6. Captain Wrigley and Sergeant A. Murphy, D.F.C., who surveyed the aerial route from Melbourne to Darwin, wero passengers by the steamer Mataram, which arrived from Darwin today. Thoy were the first to fly across Australia," a journey of approximately 2o€o miles, which was completed in I<3 hours' actual flying time. p Thoy experienced a good deal oFiroul>le with tne engine. The most difficult stages of the* journey. Captain "Wrigley stated to-day. were between Alexandria and Anthony's Lagoon and Katherino and Dai-win. Captain "Wrigley considers that the flight will l)o the 'forerunner of a regular series of flights across the continent, and that the time is not far distant when the journey will be accomplished I in four or -five days.

PABIS-SAIGON FLIGHT. LONDON. January 4. Tho correspondent of 'Tho Times 1 * at Paris states that tho French aeroplane which is flying from Paris to Saigon (French Cochin-China) left tho French capital for Athens on January 2nd. TA previous mossaeo stated that tho civil aviators, Dronils and Nesvoyelles, would attempt to fly from Paris to Saigon (capital of Frcnch C of, hin-China) on January 3rd. The journey of flono miles will be made by way of Antioch, Allahabad, and Bangkok, in a twinengined, 200 horse-power hydroplane.]

AVIATION !N AUSTRALIA. VERY SLOW PROGRESS. (from orn own correspondent.) SYDNEY, Januaiy 6. It is over a year since the armistice was signed, and all tho aviation activities of tho world were released from war demands, yet this new means of transport and communication, which, was cxpectod to do wonderful things in hurrying on the development of Australia. fs still praotically unknown here. Ot all those who sought tho honotir of flying from London to Melbourne, only , one team is near success —and their machine lie> crippled away in the middle of Australia. Poulet, having fought his way to Rangoon, is now on his way home again; another team lies crippled | in Crete; another is somewhere be- i tween Constantinople and Bagdad; and ! four gaMnnt fellows have lo?t their lives —two in England and two in the Mediterranean. The position to-day clearly suggests that much has to bo done before the long-distanco flight from Europe to Australia becomes regularly practicable. But. for a year past, machines have been flittinrr about Eastern and Southern Australia, and short, regular services have been shown quite possible. Companies have been formed and aerodromes prepared, yet nothing of commerchl value has boon done: aviation continues to hang fire in a remarkable way. No one seems to havo confidence in the aerop'ano as a carrier. The machines which fly over Sydney and Melbourne are mostly only demonstrators. Ono birr firm occasionally engages a macliino to shower handbills over the city: and another is understock to have bought an a/"*oplano for its travellers; but, gencrnllv, all the commercial bouses aro sitting bnclc waiting on the others to move. Tho defeat of the inimitable Mr Webster and the appointment of a new Post-master-General renders mail-carrying erperiments with aeroplanes possible nnd probnhlo. The unfortnnato acr'dent in Melbourne last week will not help to popularise the aeroplane. A machine had been engncrfcd hv tho evening paper to deliver copies of the d-'v's issue at certain noints around Hohson Bar. In swoopint* down at one place to deliver the bundles, the machino struck some telegraph wires. It turned completely over, nnd fell and was wo-ked. Tho aviator, a verv distinguished flyer from the battlefields, -was ser'nmly initired, and his companion, n oollerm boy who had gone for a spin, was fatally Kurt.