ALTITUDE RECORD.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20906, 13 July 1933, Page 4

ALTITUDE RECORD.

FEAT OF WELLINGTON PILOT RECALLED. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, July 12. Records kept in Wellington suggest that the altitude record claimed by Mr E. F. Harvie in New Zealand is nearly 1000 feet below that reached by Mr C. M. Duthie, Wellington Aero Club pilot, some years ago, when in a standard machine he went up to 19,370 feet. In any case, unless the New Plymouth machine was equipped with a sealed barograph, a record could not be claimed (as in the of Mr Duthie's 19,370 feet) as an automatic record of such an instrument is insisted upon in the official altitude flights. The Wellington Aero Club has no barograph of this type, though the Government has such instruments; but generally their use is not heartily encouraged, for altitude flying places a heavy strain on machines built for standard work. All aeroplanes have their natural "ceiling" and to drive them beyond that limit of height a wide open throttle is needed, calling for more than the engines are designed to give in normal efficient work. Since Mr Duthie's unofficial record, altitude flying has not been encouraged in Wellington.

A BLENHEIM CLAIM. ALTITUDE OF 19,000 FEET REACHED BY WOMAN. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) BLENHEIM, July 12. In reference to Mr E. F. Harvie's claim at New Plymouth to the New Zealand altitude record, it is said here that Miss Pauline Bennett, daughter of Dr. *J. F. Bennett, Blenheim, reached an altitude of 19,000 feet on February 4, 1930, compared with Mr Harvie's 18,400 feet. Her climb occupied one hour 50 minutes. She is light in weight, and her machine, the Marlborough Aero Club's Moth AAJ, was specially stripped of surplus gear and the engine specially tuned. Miss Bennett is visiting England, where she is doing much flying.