FLIGHT ROUND THE WORLD.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17401, 11 March 1922, Page 11

FLIGHT ROUND THE WORLD.

SIR ROSS SMITH'S PREPARATIONS

(By Oable—Press As'^ifttkm—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Asaccj&tion.) LONDON, March 9.

Tlie Australian Press Association learns that arrangements are proceeding satisfactorily for Sir Rob 3 Smith's flight round the world, which is expected to begin in April-. Captain the Hon. I\ E. Guest (Sec. retary of State for tlie.Air), replying to a question in the House of Commons, said Sir Rosa Smith's round-the-world flight would not be financed by the Government.

"The most ticklish part of the journey." said Sir Keith Smith, in an interview, "will be across the Atlantic, but we are taking every possible precaution to ensure the success of the undertaking. It is pretty certain that a flight round the world will be done some day. and wo're keen that the honour shall go to a British-born subject. If conditions are favourable, and we are in good health, we mean to fulfil our ambition. We have been working on the details of the journey for the past 18 months, arid I have.been over most of the ground studying the conditions which we shall have to face. The route we shall take depends largely on the trade winds. I should like to get across the Atlantic at the outset, as it would be a very big strain at the end of such a strenuous flight. We are sure to come up against some pretty bad weather, but it will not be worse than we experienced in our flight to Australia." , It is expected that there will be only three engaged in the flight-—Sir Keith, his younger brother, Sir Ross, and Sergeant Bennett, the mechanic who ftcomifenied them on the Australian flight. The route contemplated will be across the Atlantic, over Canada and Alaska, crossing over to Asia, and down the coast and over Japan to the north of Siam, thenoe across tho north of India and Arabia, and so over Asia Minor and Europe to England.