HINKLER INTERVIEWED

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 March 1928, Page 3

HINKLER INTERVIEWED

MAN AND MACHINE

Bert Hinkler is a born airman. He dreamed of aeroplanes and flying when a boy, and his inventive genius and mechanical ability have since combined to enable his dream to materialise (says the “Sydney Morning Herald”). ‘

He has the grit and determination which characterise the Briton, and the traditional resourcefulness and ingen-’ uity. of the Australian; yet, withal, he is a remarkably modest man. He makes light of hardships, ami smiles his way into the hearts of his thousands of admirers. His smile is enigmatical. By the casual observer it might, be mistaken for a cynical grin. Hinkler's smile has a background of pleasantness, and, after a careful scrutiny one realises that the face, is that of a. shrewd observer, one who has strength of character sufficient, to ensure his adherence to his predetermined task, despite- cither cajolry or opposition.

But probably the most commendable feature-in regard to this magnificent achievement, is the fact, that Hinkler declines to take any particular credit to himself for it. He. desires -'hat. the main credit for the accomplishment should be given to the machine and the engine.

“As a Briton and an Australian,” ho stated in an interview, “it is the greatest possible satisfaction to me that I have been able to make the journey throughout with British tools. For some time past there has been a tendency to praise the merits of foreignmade aeroplanes or seaplanes, but all the time I knew that there was no better aeroplane to be had, for either commercial or long-distance flights, than those designed and constructed by British, firms. This journey has been nothing special for my machine. It has. been in use for more than two years. It has never caused mo a moment’s anxiety. The engine now is running as smoothly and sweetly as when I loft England. The tyres of the wheels are still filled with British air.”

The aeroplane weighs 9001 b, and it has a four-cylindei’ air-cooled engine. It is capable of covering 105 miles an hour, and its fuel consumption is 2d miles to the gallon. “Australians do not know what they are missing,” he added, referring to his flight from Darwin to Sydney. “Why/l thought I knew a great deal about Australia. Now I realise how little of the country I really knew, I am looking forward with the greatest pleasure to making extended tours throughout the Commonwealth. You have wonderful visibility in Australia, which makes it an extremely simple thing to fly from one place to another without getting lost. I am using my little machine not merely for my own pleasure, as another man might use a runabout motor car, but also to demonstrate to Australians how easy it would be for them to get over great tracts of country very speedily in a useful little aeroplane of this kind. It has been asserted that an aeroplane rapidly deteriorates. That is all wrong. The depreciation is nothing greater than it would he with a, motor car, if as great. This machine has flown nearly 20,000 miles under all sorts of weather conditions. I would like to see the motor car that has been through similar trying conditions and would show as little signs of depreciation as does my Avro-Avian. Australians do a great deal of riding over very difficult country under trying conditions, and all that could be obviated by using the aeroplane. I hope when they see my machine they will realise this.” NOT A “STUNT” FLIGHT. Asked why he had undertaken the flight to Australian, Hinkler said that he had the machine, he wanted to come to Australia, and he considered he could get here quicker and better by air than in any other way. “It must not be assumed,” he -added, “that my flight is in the nature of a ‘stunt.’ The flight I made could be accomplished by another aviator with capable tools. If I have done nothing else than, to open the eyes of Britons and Australians to the possibilities of an aerial service between Britain and Australia, my flight will have accomplished its main objective. Really, there is nothing particularly unusual in what I have done. I could easily duplicate the flight in the same machine under similar circumstances. One matter might be mentioned is that, in organising commercial flying between here and Britan, provision must be made for night flying, which is easy and safe when there are proper precautions for taking off and landing. In- the future, I am convinced it will be quite a common thing in the journey to Australia for aerial passengers to have supper and, after a rest, to get into an aeroplane, go to sleep, and awaken the next morning 1000 miles nearer their destination. It is only a matter of machines and organisation. Britain can supply everything that is wanted in the way of men and machines for such a journey. It requires only effective organisation to make commercial aviation between Britain and Australia an accomplished fact.”

Describing his trip from Queensland Hinkler said: “I enjoyed every mile and every minute of the flight. I left. Brisbane at 6.30, and flew rapidly southward over the coastal route. I circled over one or two towns on the northern rivers, also ovei’ Gosford on the way down, and could have reached Sydney quite easily at 1 p.m., if it had been necessary. I landed on the racecourse at Newcastle, while a race meeting was in progress, and stopped to see three races run. Someone put me on a ‘good thing,’ which, however, did not ‘come off.’ I lost a ‘fiver.’ But I cannot remember the name of the horse.”

Questioned respecting his future plans, Hinkler said they were at present indefinite. He had arranged to visit Canberra, Melbourne, and Adelaide, but could not. tell exactly what would happen after that. He was looking forward to return visits to Sydney and Brisbane, but when those would take place was problematical. “Just now,” he said, “it is a question whether I shall remain permanently in Australia. It seems to me that there is a possibility of my being required for aeronautical developments in other directions. However, my future plans are cuite unsettled, and that is all I can say.” Mr Hinkler ridiculed the statement that he would attempt to fly from Australia. Io Now Zealand. He .".aid that his desire at. present was merol.y Io demonstrate llu l great possibilities of the small light aeroplane in developing the more distant parts of the Commonwealth, and its use for commercial purposes in the more thickly populated areas.