DARWIN REACHED

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 104, 27 January 1930, Page 11

DARWIN REACHED

CHICHESTER’S SOLO FLIGHT FROM ENGLAND DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME EXPECTED AT SYDNEY TO-MORROW (United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Hee. January 26, 5.5 p.m.) Darwin, January 26. Mr. F. C. Chichester, the New Zealand airman, arrived here at 3.15 on Saturday afternoon, thirty-six days after his unadvertised departure from Croydon, England. His explanation of the secrecy at the start was that he was prepared to talk about the flight after rather than before it was accomplished. By his wonderful solo journey Chichester joins the splendid company of Hinkler and Lindberg. His flying time for the present flight has not yet been worked out, but it is expected that it will not greatly exceed Hinkler’s 134 hours. It must be remembered, of course, that the latter was made with an old type machine, while the New Zealander is using the latest D.H. Gipsy Moth, with a cruising speed of 90 miles an hour.

The crash in the swamps of Tripoli, North Africa, early in January damaged the propeller and ended the chance of beating Hinkler’s record. Spare parts were obtained and Chichester resumed the flight on January 9. Though his zest for the adventure was damped by the receipt of the news of his wife’s death at Wellington, steady progress attended the airman’s journey. An 800 miles non-stop run from Tripoli brought him to Aboslvia, where his brother was in ,charge of ,the oil supplies. At Raffia Wells he had to get his valves overhauled, and at Calcutta further attention was given them by native mechanics, who worked at high pressure and enabled him to get away next day. He narrowly escaped a crash owing to the small space and boggy nature of the landing ground at Point Victoria. Singapore welcomed him warmly, and he had a day’s rest at Batavia, where the engine was overhauled. From Batavia, owing to the monsoons, Chichester says he had to drop to Sourabaya, the visibility being poor. The next hop was to Atamboea, one of the longest he had, but the journey only occupied six hours ten minutes. From there he flew to Darwin direct, having a good trip. He picked up Melville Island only a quarter of a degree out of bearing. This hop included three and three-quarter hours over water.

Chichester says he would have reached Darwin on Friday but for the fact that the Dutch plans proved faulty. People here were much concerned at the airman’s non-arrival on Friday, but their delight to-day was shown in the wonderful reception accorded him. Chichester’s present intention is to leave for Sydney on Sunday. He will go via Burnette Downs and expects to reach Sydney on Tuesday.

YOUNG INDIAN STARTS AGAIN ATTEMPT TO WIN AGA KHAN’S PRIZE British Official Wireless. (Rec. January 25, W5 p.m.) Rugby, January 24. Mah Mohan Singh, the young Indian who "recently made an unsuccessful attempt to fly from England to India to win a prize of £5OO offered by the Aga Khan to the flrst Indian doing the journey in 1930, started on another attempt to-day. He left Lympne aerodrome shortly before 1 o’clock this afternoon.