AVIATION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16850, 2 June 1920, Page 7

AVIATION.

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA. (By Cable—Press Association —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cciblo Association.) LONDON, May 31. Lieutenant Hinckler, in a "baby" Avro, left Croydon at 4.50 a.m. to fly to Australia. Hinckler was debarred from competing for tho Commonwealth. Government's £10,000 prize in a Sopwith machine, on the ground that bis sclieme involved too many risks. He has been connected with the Avro works at Southampton for some time, and has never abandoned his intention to attempt the Australian flight. _He has now started the flight as a pporting venture, hoping to be the first man to roach Australia in a single-seater aeroplane. His machine, a '"baby" _Avro, which won the sealed handicap in the Aerial Derby, has a ranere of 200 miles, and flies from 70 to 80 miles an hour, using a Green engine of 35 horse-power. It is a most daring proposition on his part to attempt to eross_ largo stretches of water in such a machine, but Hinckler is "a bit of a sport," and believes he will reach Australia eventually. He left Waddon aerodrome in excellent wefither.

Hinckler fitted extra petrol tanks to his Avro machine, and hopes thus to obtain eight to ten hours' continuous flight. Ho does not expect to get beyond Egypt at present, owing to the prevalent unrest in Syria and Mesopotamia.

Hinckler hoped to reach Rome the first day, going via Paris, Lyons, and Genoa. " If unable to fly over Syria, he will make a leisurely tour into Central Africa.

[Lieutenant Bert Hinckler, D.S.M., is a native of Bundaberg, Queensland. He enlisted in September, 1914, in the Naval Air Service, and saw much service on the Italian front.]

ROME TO TOKIO. LONG PLIGHT COMPLETED. (Received June Ist, 10.5 p.m.) TOKIO. May 31. The Italian aviators, Mnsiero and Ferrardi, completed their flight from Rome, arriving at Tokio to-day. ["Tho flight from Rome to Toliio was organised by the Italian aviation authorities. Tho machines used were Capronis. The flight commenced l;wt January, the relays of machines starting at intervals during that month. The route generally was across the Adriatic, and thence to Salonika, Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, India, Siam, and across China and tho Yellow Sea.]