SURVEY FLIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 5, 7 January 1928, Page 22

SURVEY FLIGHT

THE SEAGULL REACHES SYDNEY SAFELY. Having flown about 10,000 miles since leaving Melbourne on 27th September, Captain E. C. Waekett, in an amphibian Seagull aeroplane, arrived in Sydney Harbour on 22nd December. Captain Waekett, who was accompanied by Corporal G. Simpson and Aircraftsman k. Irving, has since his departure from Melbourne completed a survey of the coastline of Papua and the Mandated Territory. This work was undertaken in conjunction with a Federal Government geological party, one of whom, Mr. Mason-Jones, was with him on nights in Papua. The 'plane left Southport at So 'clock on the morning of his arrival in Sydney. It called at Maclean and Port Macquario for fuelling on the way down and reached Sydney just after 4 o'clock, alighting in Kose Bay. For some time the 'plane attracted attention while it was taxi-ing round the bay looking for a buoy. Finally Captain Waekett ran it up into the shallow water near the beach at the back of the Winter Garden Picture Theatre. There his brother, Squadron-Leader Waekett, was waiting to welcome him, and he was also welcomed by Mr. J. A. Portus, assist-ant-manager of the British Imperial Oil Company. Two Seagulls commenced the flight from Melbourne, one being in charge of Flying-Officer D. Koss. Flying-Officer G. Packer, who has since returned by steamer, also made tho flight to New Guinea. The other 'plane had engine trouble in New Guinea and a new engine has been sent up for it. FlyingOfficer Koss will pilot it down to Australia in about a month's time. Captain Waekett told a "Sydney Morning Herald" representative that

no exceptional difficulties were experienced during the flights to and from New Guinea and round the coastline. Flying conditions there were very good —even better than in Australia. No difficulty was experienced in finding alighting places round the coast. Excellent weather was experienced except for one storm. There were no untoward incidents during any part of tho flights. A report on the survey work carried out would later be submitted to the proper authorities. Tho work was mainly concerned with the search for oil-bearing country. FlightLieutenant Wackett said that this had been his first long flight and it had been a splendid experience.