AVIATION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 22 September 1930, Page 11

AVIATION.

.LONDON TO THE CAPE.

JOURNEY IN NINE DAYS

(TJSTITBD PHBSS ASSOCIATION—BS ELECTRIC TBLBORAFH—COPVBIOHT.)

(Received September 21st, 5.3 p.m.)

LONDON, September 20.

All arrangements have now been completed for a regular London to the Cape air service. The first half of the service, tuat between London and Lake Victoria, will bo opened in January and extended to the Capo a few months afterwards, with an eleven days' schedule in either direction.

The journey through Africa from Cairo will at first occupy eight days, but later it ib hoped, by means of night flying, to bring the Cape within nine days of London. The service is primarily intended for air mails, but passengers will also be carried.

AIR PAGEANT AT SYDNEY.

DISPLAY OF SKILFUL FLYING.

(Roccivcd September 21st, 5.5 p.m.)

SYDNEY, September 21,

Tho air pageant concluded at Hargrave Park yesterday, when 42 machines participated. In beautiful weather, and In the presence of 25,000 watchers, Fly-ing-Officer R. Sims, piloting a Westland Wapiti, won the Air Derby, averaging 135 miles an hour. Two machines avoided a collision by tho smallest of margins, and skilful handling by Pilot Shortridge saved the situation. Pilots Mollison and Shortridge flew upside-down for several minutes and gave a display of aerial acrobatics.

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA.

CAPTAIN MATTHEWS NEAR

BAGDAD

(BBITIBH OFFICIAL WISELSSS.)

(Received September 21st, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, September 19.

After flying from Croydon to Belgrade in 9J hours, Captain Matthews, who is attempting to beat Mr Hinkler's record time for a solo flight to Australia, was held up one day by extremely bad weather. He flew to Stamboul yesterday, and is continuing via Aleppo today.

(Received September 213t, 5.5 p.m.)

BAGDAD, September 20. Captain Matthews has arrived at Ramadi, 70 miles from Bagdad.

YOUNG FLYER'S ADVENTURE.

(Received September 22nd, 12.50 a.m.)

SYDNEY, September 21. A voung aviator, whose identity has not been disclosed, gained notoriety to-day, and also narrowly escaped death. Ho stole an aeroplane from Hargrave Park aerodrome, intending to be the first to land an aeroplane nt Katoomba. However, he crashed in Granville, a suburb. He severely damaged the machine, but he' escaped injury.

EXPORT OF AEROPLANES. GREAT BRITAIN'S LEADERSHIP. (naiTisn official wireless.) RUGBY. September 19. Orders for aircraft worth several hundred thousand pounds # have been received in Great Britnin from abroad during the past few weeks. Great Britaiu is nt the head of the list of countries exporting aeroplanes unci air machines. The Japanese and c'rench Governments are among tho&e which have bought for their navies allmetal tlying-boats made in England, and equipped with English engines. In addition, large orders for light aeroplanes and severnl fleets of monoplane passenger liners are .being built •i O'-eat Rritain for air routes abroad One important Homj order just being •onipleted is that of eight 40-senter landley Page air liners, which Imperial Airways are to use on the service to India. These giants, which have 140 feet of wing span, with slots as large as the main planes of Moth machines, have encb a speed of 120 miles on hour. and accommodation, which includes two lounges and bar, equipped with armchairs, and two huge holds for luggage and freight.