RETURN FLIGHT OVER TASMAN

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21089, 14 February 1934, Page 17

RETURN FLIGHT OVER TASMAN

. —+ , MR ULM EXPECTS TO GO AT j WEEK-EM) j LTIIE TRESS Special Service] AUCKLAND, February 1-. No definite time for his departure: on his return Ilight across the Tasman has yet been fixed by Mr C. T. P. ; Ulm, who arrived from Sydney yes-j terday by the Marama. Mr Ulm said • that he would leave from Muriwai; beach at the week-end, but he could | not fix the exact time of departure j until he ascertained at New Plymouth, what progress had been made with the I overhaul of the engines of his mono-1 plane, Faith in Australia. i Mr Ulm left Auckland for Nov; j Plymouth by aeroplane shortly after | the arrival of the Marama He said that he would fly the Faith in Australia to Auckland, and would take off from Muriwai beach probably on Saturday or Sunday morning. "I cannot say yet whether I shall be a competitor in the Melbourne centenary air race," he said before his departure from Auckland. "Natural y I am keen to compete, but my plans have not yet been completed.' !

The Faith in Australia, which to make its return trip across the lasman Sea at the week-end will be. flown from the Bell Block Aerodrome, New Plymouth, to the Hobsonville Air Base to-morrow, and on Friday will be taken to the Muriwai beach at Auckland in preparation for the takeThe machine has been overhauled in preparation for the flight at New Plymouth. A big petrol tank which was taken out for the passenger flying work has been fitted again and the wireless gear has been installed. It v/as intended to make a test flight round Mount Egmont this afternoon • Mr Ulm (commander), Mr O. U. Allen (co-pilot and navigator), and Mr R. N. Boulton (engineer) will be the crew. , ~ This flight will be noteworthy because on it will he carried the first official air mail between New Zealand and Australia. It is expected that 40,000 letters will be earned. A feature will be that the letters will be franked at Auckland early in the morning with the date of the flight, so that the envelopes will be franked with the same date on arrival at Sydney that night.