PREPARATION FOR AIR RACE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27094, 18 July 1953, Page 6

PREPARATION FOR AIR RACE

Scheme To Increase

Mustang’s Speed

"The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, July 17. Interviewed after his record-break-ing Tasman flight today, Mr J. L. Whiteman said that he hoped to increase the speed of his Mustang plane by 92 miles an hour before he flies it in the London-Christchurch air race. The extra speed will be attained by the fitting of variable pulsating jet engines. , Mr Whiteman said he had taken over the Rebel—as the Mustang is now christened—-“with an instruction book in my hand to see how it worked.” Among improvements he had made to the machine was the fitting of a new radio and drop tanks. During his Tasman flight, Mr Whiteman was in constant communication with a flying-boat of Tasman Airways, and the Royal Australian Navy had him plotted for a time on radar. Because of lightning, his radio compass would not work. As he approached Whenuapai, he could hear instructions from the tower, but the controllers could not hear his replies. Discussing the air race, Mr Whiteman said he wanted to break some of the solo records between England and New Zealand. “There are 14 of them in all,” he said. “I think I can beat the other single-seater in the race—a de Havilland Hornet—because my Mustang has a better range. My plane can fly for five hours at 400 miles an hour, and that’s safe.” For the race, he would have a special Mosquito 100-gallon tank fitted, but he would be able to carry only 60 gallons of jet fuel, he said. Mr Whiteman was helped in his efforts to get the Mustang in trim by Sergeant J. Inkson and Corporal T. Lane, two Australians. Their names are on the fuselage of the plane, as well as the name of an oil company, which will give Mr Whiteman £lOO for breaking the Tasman record, and a tiki and a boomerang. “I’m always doing things I shouldn’t do,” Mr Whiteman said, when asked why the Mustang had received its name. Asked his age, Mr Whiteman replied: “My Air Force age is 38.” For Mr Whiteman’s new jet engines, strong steel and a Nene jet pot will be imported from England.