AVIATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 February 1930, Page 7

AVIATION

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA (By Cable —Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Recd. February 15, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, February 14. “There is nothing like flying,” said Parkerson, on being interviewed. He said that he -was interested in flying, but had to wait until the end of his business days before taking it up seriously. He found it difficult at first, and afterwards it had been easy. He had not been more than 40 hours in the air, flying only in England. He bought a Moth, which he was flying to Australia as the easiest way of getting there. He hoped to change the ordinary route by making a short cut over Turkey, but it was difficult to obtain flying permits for that country. The route would probably be Lympne, Lyons, Turin, Pisa, Rome, Naples, Brindisi, Athens, Konia, Aleppo, Basra, Jask, Karachi, Allahabad, Calcutta, Rangoon, Singapore, Reo, in Flores Island and Darwin. If the weather is good,” he added, “1 will go all out. My machine is not fitted with slotted wings, which are allright for a novice, but are unnecessary for old hands.”

PARKERSON’S CAREER. * AUCKLAND, February 14. Regarding the cable message (published yesterday) about Parkerson’s flight, Charles Purnell Parkerson was born in Canterbury fifty years ago, and he left for England in March last on business connected with the flax industry. For many , years he was a, prominent business man at Rotorua. Later, he was employed by Booth, MacDonald Ltd., at Hamilton. He also travelled for that firm in the North Auckland district. Some years ago he was a prominent bicycle rider .and pigeon shot. • Mr Parkerson’s interest in flying dates back a few years, when he was taken up for a flight from Wigram Aerodrome at Christchurch. When in England on his present trip, he started to fly in Norfolk, and on Christmas Day last, he gained his flying certificate. Fie is married, without family, and his wife is at-present living with her mother at Hikutai, in the Thames district. His brother, Mr R. L. Parkerson, lives at 11, Dean Street, Auckland.