WILEY POST ALMOST CERTAIN TO START

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 147, 19 March 1934, Page 9

WILEY POST ALMOST CERTAIN TO START

England-Australia Race WOULD-BE COMPETITORS SEEK BACKING By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March 18, 6.45 p.m.) New York, March 17, Mr. O'Connor, of the Australian National Travel Association, has telegraphed the Australian Press Association from San Francisco that Wiley Post is almost certain to start in the England-Australia race unless the final conditions impose restrictions that interfere with his plans. “Less than 72 hours is my estimate of the time. Unless I thought I could do it in better than three days I would not enter. The winner will have to beat that time,” Post said, and added that he expected to fly solo, though he would like to have either “Jim or Amy Mollison” with him unless thej’ were competing, He expressed the belief thqt no doubt Roscoe Turner and James Weddell could get backers for the race.

Mr. O’Connor indicated that Art Goebel is also anxious to enter the race and negotiating with backers, and that Lady Chaytor is another possible competitor. She is leaving Los Angeles for London next week to seek a machine and backing. Edna May Cooper, who set an endurance record for women in 1931, is seeking financial support for an endurance test during the centenary.

Wiley Post has twice held the record for a round-the-world flight. In company with Harold Gatfy, the Australian navigator, he did the trip in 8 days 15 hoiws 51 minutes. Last year he made the flight solo, and brought his own record down M 7 days, 18 hours, 50 minutes. Art. Goebel is the winner of the Dole Air Race from San Francisco to Hawaii in 1927. Roscoe Turner and James Weddell are noted American racing pilots, lhe 1 former being the present holder of lhe trans-Continental records.