IN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 28, 27 October 1934, Page 7

IN AUSTRALIA

McGregor and Walker Leave Darwin REPORTED PROGRESS Not Sighted Since Leaving Brunette Downs HEWETT AT KOEPANG By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received October 26, 11.30 p.m.) Melbourne, October 26. Flying tiie fifth aeroplane to reach Australia in tiie centenary air race, McGregor and Walker, New Zealand, arrived at Darwin at 5.20 a.m. today and departed again at 8.27 a.in. A Cbarleville message states that they landed at Brunette Downs at 5 p.m. and were directed to Cloncurry, but at 9.45 p.m. had . not again been sighted. Another message states that McGregor was reported over Newcastle Waters at 2 p.m. They cannot possibly reach Charleville to-night, even if they attempt a direct flight, and it is regarded as likely that if they reach Cloncurry they will stay the n'ght and continue in the morning to Cbarleville. Considerable interest is being displayed in their flight owing to the possibility of their scoring heavily in the handicap race. McGregor and Walker art; flying the smallest air race machine yet to reach Australia. The plane is only about the same size as the well-known Moth. Both men were pleased with their experience of crossing the Timor Sea. McGregor said at Darwin they would have been in Australia on Thursday had it not been necessary to dismantle the cowling at Koepang. The pilots were more than a little tired, but a eold wash and hot breakfast revived them. McGregor was very modest in describing the flight, which has occupied five days 15J hours from London. “We have had a very good trip.” he said. “There were no incidents. I could do with a little sleep. Both of us have had practically none since London, but we nfanaged to get a short nap last night while waiting for the cowling to be overhauled.” When it was pointed out to McGregor that his time from London was really an excellent performance for a light slngje-engined machine, he merely replied: “It feels like a month. We wont to push on as quickly as possible.. There is no sense in wasting time’” McGregor added that they did not encounter any major trouble.They were bogged at Alor Star, where the mud seemed to be giving trouble to most planes. “The flight over the Timor Sea this morning”, he said, “was a very good one, but at one stage we ran into a heavy rainstorm, and in order to dodge it had to climb to a very great altitude. Night flying does not wori/y us a bit now, because we have done so much of it on this flight.” • i .. Hewett and Kay, New Zealand, who are still in sixth place behind McGregor and Walker, reached Rambang from Batavia at IQ. a.m.,,and left at 10.45 for Koepang, where they arrived at 3.50 p.m. The Stodarts, who left Singapore at 8.5 a.m., nearly met disaster at Alor Star yesterday when they landed in six inches of water. The machine nearly tipped up when taking off in darkness in the morning and had to be dug out of the mud. They reached Batavia at 1.17 p.m* When Melrose. was flying from Rangoon no news of him was heard for some time after he had left Victoria Point, and Alor Star reported him to be two and a half hours’ overdue. However, at Calcutta he had stated that he would avoid Alor Star, as he did not like lauding there, and he arrived at Singapore! at 2.35 pan. He. experienced very stormy weather, and is continuing at midnight if it improves. . Hansen and Jensen (Denmark) continued from Rangoon to Alor Star, which they reached __at 1.52 p.m. G.M.T; There they were"held up owing to engine trouble, but left later in the day. The Molllsons have arrived at Calcutta from Allahabad. They said that they niight continue to Australia slowly or return to England. Mrs. Mollisoa added that no praise was too high for Scott. Wright and Polando, in their. Monoeoupe, reached Jask at 9 p.m. yesterday, and to-day went on to Karachi. McGregor and Walker’s time to Darwin may be regarded as a light aeroplane record for the England-Australia flight. But for the times taken by the four competitors now in Melbourne their’s would have been the fastest trip for planes of any type, Mr. Elm’s previous record time in the Faith of Australia being 6 days 17 hours 45 minutes. HONOURING AIRMEN Difference of Opinion (Received October 26, 10.5 p.m.) Melbourne, October 26. People are anxious to honour all competing airmen, but the authorities are clashing as to whether • the event should be a triumphant procession or a banquet. Some authorities claim that the public will have sufficient opportunity to see the aviators at the Air Force pageant at Laverton on November 10. Early action is necessary if anything is to be done, as the winners are already making plans for the early future. The people, who-have shown much enthusiasm, will be disappointed if the aviators’ exploits are not suitably recognised by the authorities. Appreciating the help given by Albury citizens to Parmentier, the Royal Dutch Air Line has announced that it is giving 1000 guilders to the Albury hospital. A message of thanks from the Dutch Government has been received by the Netherlands Consul. OFFER TO RACE BACK Waller May Attempt Record Melbourne, October 26. Disaster nearly overtook Waller after his landing at Laverton. A strong gust of wind swept the Comet round. Air Force men grasped the wings and prevented it overturning. Discussing the race, Waller and Jones expressed disappointment at not wlnfltog,, Jdalnjlng ttrai their .Comfit M

faster than Scott’s, whose achievement was warmly’appreciated. Stimulated by his experience in the race, Waller said that he was thinking of flying back to England in order to establish a record for the double journey. He w-ould make it a race as a sporting ahd prizeless contest., if anyone so desired. Waller added: “From England to Australia and back in eight days is our idea.” Turner is shipping his Boeing Transport aeroplane to Honolulu, and thence flying to San Francisco. Scott is shipping his Comet back to England. Parmentier is flying the Douglas back to Holland. ' An unofficial check in‘Melbourne, a British official wireless message states, indicates that Scott and Black won both speed and handicap races, but under the rules of the race they cannot receive the prize money for both. Jones and Waller entered for both events, their allowance for the handicap being only 36 minutes, as compared with 35 hours 22 minutes 12 seconds alloted to McGregor and Walker, who are at present in the fifth position. CERTIFICATE ISSUED Bellanca Passes Tests FITZMAURICE’S PLANS (Received October 26, 7.50 p.m.) London, October 26. Colonel J. C. Fitzmaurice’s Bellanca machine passed its test at Portsmouth yesterday with a full load of 8350 pounds and has been granted a certificate of airworthiness. The machine landed satisfactorily in spite of the wet ground. Fitzmaurice and Bonar Intended to leave Lympne for Australia at 3 a.m. on Friday, conforming with the conditions of the centenary air race in order to prove the Irish Swoop’s capabilities and in the hope of beating Scott’s record.

After a repetition of trouble with the oil feed, however, Fitzmaurice is having an additional pipe fitted, postponing the start probably for 24 hours. The Irish Hospitals Trust has issued a statement saying that Colonel Fitzmaurice explained to the committee only two hours before his departure from America to England that he had not time for a full-load test, which, he -was informed; the American Government would complete in England. He offered to perform the test at Mildenhall, but the committee, also an Air Ministry official, regarded it is unnecessary. Nevertheless, while the official was informing Fitzmaurice that everything was In order except the pilot’s license, the lifebelts and the Verey lights, the committee was cabling to Washington regarding the airworthiness of the plane and did not tell Fitzmaurice. The committee offered to let Fitzmaurice fly at a gross weight of 8350 pounds, subject to disqualification if he won, in the event of the American certificate being unsatisfactory. Fitzmaurice accepted, whereupon 'the committee withdrew the offer and informed Fitzmaurice that he could only fly at 5458 pounds. . It also refused Fitzmaurice’s offer to make the flight as a sporting event.

The Hospitals Trust adds that an American cable substantiated Fitzmaurice’s statements, and thus every effort by Fitzmaurice and his sponsors to keep the matter a sporting event was turned down, by the committee and stewards,