KINGSFORD SMITH

Feilding Star, Volume 11, Issue 4156, 1 February 1934, Page 7

KINGSFORD SMITH

HAS EARNED A REST NO MORE BIG FLIGHTS AFTER BIG RACE TALKS ABOUT AMERICAN MACHINES It is the intention of Sir Charles Kingstord Smith to give up long distance flying after lie has taken part in the. Melbourne Centenary Air Race from England to Australia. In an interview at Christchurch last week, he said that he was quite definite in his decisionSir Charles is not in a position to state at this juncture just what type of machine he will use in the big race, but he says he does not see the possibility of getting a. British machine because the British firms had not been producing the type of machine that would lie necessary. “I think one of the Americans will win, the tusk will require peiriect mechanism, combined with a fine pilot, l'irst-class navigation. endurance, and a fair run a regards weather will lie essential factors, plus u machine with a cruising- speed of 2Ud miles per hour or over. The Americans have been turningout such machines and using them in regular services for two years or more. It is going to be hard for an old man of nearly thirtv-seve.il to hold these keen youngsters of /twenty-one or so.”

Sir Chares had not finally decided oil a companion, hut he has in mind Captain P. G. Taylor, whom he describes as a great pilot and a e-reat navigator.