MILITARY AVIATION IN AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 28, 3 February 1915, Page 10

MILITARY AVIATION IN AUSTRALIA

(MOM OtTrt OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, 22nd January. After all, the military aviation trip by Captain Petre on a Caudron biplane from Sydney to Melbourne did not take place. There is a good deal of disappointment over the non-fulfilment of the promised initial venture on a big scale by a member of the Australian Flying Corps. Captain Petre by himself made several trial flights on the 80-horse power macliine, and as photographed for illustration purposes on behalf of newspapers, looked very fine and convincing. For the trip of 500 miles -to Melbourne from near Sydney, he was going to take a mechanic with him. After the exchange of goodbyes with admiring spectators, Captain Petre and his companion soared gracefully up for a thousand feet. Then the big biplane was seen to dip, and bank, and volplane, and to porform other astonishing manoeuvres, after which it turned round, came back, and alighted with gentle ease. Captain Petre explained that the machine would not go any higher than about a thousand feet when carrying two passengers, and as this was not nearly high enough he had to give it up. "Very sorry," said he, "but there's nothing doing." He also said that after this experience he would advise the cancellation of the arrangements made for the purchase of the biplane by the Commonwealth Government from the gentleman who imported it at a cost of £1700. So we have still to wait for a demonstration of what the Australian Flying Corps can really do.