AIR RACE PROJECT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 33, 8 August 1934, Page 9

AIR RACE PROJECT

ACROSS AUSTRALIA

BIG PLANS IN HAND

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, July 30.

! World-famous aviators aud worldfamous machines will visit Australia this year in connection with, the Cen-tenary-Air Bace from London to Mel- | bourne. Every State will be anxious to sec them, and the chances arc that New South Wales and Western Australia at I least will be satisfied. A proposal for a, great air race across Australia from Perth to Sydney during Sydney Festival Week, has been talccn up enthusiastically by the aero clubs, in 'both States, and the preliminary .organisation work is already in hand. Iv order to mak,e the idea attractive to pilots, it is proposed that in the first place thoro should be a race from Melbourne 1o Perth, aud the Western, Australian Aero Club has expressed its willingness to allot tho following prizes-.—First £1000, second £300, third £100, fastest time £000. It is suggested that similar prizes should bo offered by Sydney for a race across tho continent from Perth. Tho air line from Perth to Sydney is 2100 miles, and it is not unlikely that most of the machines would cover that distance jin less than 11 hours. The plan would bo to start from Perth before dawn, with tho object of reaching Sydney early in tho afternoon. A start from Perth at a very early hour would not cause any hardship to pilots who would have flown from England to Australia under all sorts of conditions. In addition, there is the fact that the air route along the transcontinental railway line is illuminated at intervals by powerful beacons, provision for night flying having been made by the Federal Government when it inaugurated the aerial mail service from Perth to Adelaide.

It is hoped that the idea of a great Australian air race.will appeal to tho public of Sydney, who will bo propared to assist the 'Aero Club to secure sufficient funds to provide the prize money. Sydney's Festival Week -this year is going to bo on a bigger scale than over, and it would seem fitting to include in the programme tlic greatest niv nice ever held within the borders of. the yomin.ouwe.alth.