NOTABLE FLIGHT ENDS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 152, 24 December 1926, Page 16

NOTABLE FLIGHT ENDS

WILLLLMB AND M'INTYRE BACK feßm pacific islands. ■ ■

Back ijfrom a trip which, according to oxpefts, "bristled with difficulties," Group-C&iptain Williams, with FligjUtLieat. iW'lntyre and Flight-Sergean£ Trist, artrived safely at the Point Cook Aerodrome (Victoria) on 7th December. Although certain set-backs occurred botl* before and during the flight, no miabiaps of any consequence took place in the whole of the ten-thousand-odd milcts covered by the airmen.

GroupiCaptain Williams's original intention ?ras to fly as far as Samoa, but owing t« the unusually early approach of the EBonsoon season, it was considered wise not to go beyond Tulagi. At this poirtt the most important part of the wholp projected Toute had been covered, an ft the value of the trip from an aerial reconnaissance point of view should be considerable. The return journey >was naturally undertaken at a much greater rate than the outer one, during which careful observations had to be matle. The distance of over five thousand miles from Tulagi was traversed in twelve days—a speedy bit of flying; Jfn all, about ten weeks have been takian over the trip, three of which were occupied at Tulagi, where the aviators Ikdd a good rest and the aeroplane wasi overhauled. When it is considered that the de Haviland machine used by Group-Captain Williams was not much more than half as powerful as that of Sir Alan Cobham, while it had an extra passenger and a heavier load, one ctf the chief difficulties in this romantic :6ght can be realised. That the aviators got through so well is a great tribute to their skill and daring. The undertaking waa a pioneering one in its truest sense. No aircraft has previously jflown. over the South .Sea Islands, while even shipping in many of the places (covered is a rarity. However, Grouw-Captain Williams had no difficulty int obtaining supplies of fuel and oil, so iwsential to the continuance and success Vof his trip, the route having been previously mapped out, and the necessary supplies placed at convenient points. Congratulations are due to Group-Captain Williams and his companions for their good efforts in the cause of aviation in this part of the world.