THE AIR RACE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21296, 16 October 1934, Page 11

THE AIR RACE

SEVENTEEN STARTERS NOW IN ENGLAND NEW ZEALANDERS ON THE MARK (CKITED PRESS ASSOCIATION'—BY tLECTKIC TELEGSATB—COPYRIGHT.) (Received October 15, 5.5 p.m.) I LONDON, October 14. By 4.30 p.m., the time specified for the arrival of competitors in the Melbourne Centenary air race, at Mildenhali Aerodrome, 12 had landed. Extensions have been granted to 10 other probable starters in addition to several who are regarded as unlikely to compete. Barring accidea'.s, the ultimate field seems likely to be 20, not including two Italian entrants, of whom there is no news. Seventeen of the probable starters are now in England. In view of the great expense of the race the heavy scratchings from the .original field of 64 are not surprising. When the early apathy toward the race, especially in Great Britain, is remembered, 20 starters must be regarded as satisfactory. J. Woods (Australia) damaged the undercarriage of his Lockheed Vega in landing at Heston this afternoon. The damage is not serious and the pilot was uninjured. The machine was rushed to the workshops and it is expected that repairs will be effected in time to enable the machine to reach Mildenhali Aerodrome to-morrow, so the Royal Aero Club has granted an extension of time until then. There could be no mistaking the Rapide Dragon flown by J. D. Hewitt and C. E. Kay (New Zealand). It is painted a violent orange which is inartistic but is the easiest colour to see from the air in the event of a forced landing. The Miles Hawk to be flown by the New Zealanders, M. C. McGregor and H. C. Walker, will be the smallest in the race.

RULES CRITICISED SHORT STAGES PREDICTED KINGSFORD-SMITH'S PLANS [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, October 15. "The Melbourne Centenary air race, under the rules finally adopted, will be more of a leisurely cruise than a race," said Mr John Stannage, business manager for Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith who, accompanied by Mr J. T. Pethybridge. engineer, is passing through Auckland by the Aorangi on the way to the United States to make arrangements for Sir Charles's forthcoming trans-Pacific flight. The rules passed by the Royal Aero Club would make it necessary for most of the competing machines to land and refuel every 1000 miles, Mr Stannage said. With some of the fast machines this would mean landing every few hours. It might be a desirable safety measure but it very largely destroyed the racing aspect. "In Australia we are inclined to think the rules should favour the British de Havilland Comet machines," Mr Stannage said. "They are apparently allowed a cruising range of about 3000 miles. On the other hand the Italian competitors, who have received enthusiastic support j fr,om their Government, may furnish the winner." Considerable regret had been caused in Australia by Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith's withdrawal from the race, Mr Stannage said. It had been the result of pure bad luck. The delay in the granting of the certificate had been unavoidable, but even then the airman would easily have flown to England in time for the start of the race if it had not been for the damage to his engine cowling. This was made of spun aluminium and special plant had to be arranged to" carry out the necessary repairs. The work took so long that it would have been practically impossible for the monoplane to be flown to England in time for overhaul and testing before the start of the race. "To have attempted to fly to England in the time would have imposed too great a strain on Sir Charles and his companion. Captain P. G. Taylor," Mr Stannage added. "His decision is regarded in Aus- J 1 ralia as the only one he could possibly have made." Mr Stannage said he could add nothing to the information already published about' Sir Charles's proposed trans-Pacific flight in the Lady Southern Cross. Sir Charles proposed to fly from Sydney to Brisbane, this week and then await a favourable opportunity for "hopping off." He hoped to be able to arrange the time so as to have the navigational aid of the full moon on the stretch between Suva and Honolulu. At present Sir Charles proposed to sell the monoplane on his arrival in the United States.

Mr Stannage has been wireless operator with Sir Charles on flights across the Atlantic and the Tasmah. More recently he has been manager of Sir Charles's aviation business

in Sydney. The Lady Southern Cross, he said, would be equipped with a' small wireless transmitting set for the flight across the Pacific, and the set would be operated by Sir Charles himself. "He is as good an operator as I am," Mr Stannage added.