AVIATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 July 1934, Page 2

AVIATION

KING’S CUP RACE

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, July 12

Different type of aeroplanes will be represented in the King’s Cup air race, a handicap event. A machine entered by Prince George, is a commercial type aeroplane, with a speed of 200 miles an hour, which will concede a time allowance of three hours sixteen minutes to the slowest machine in the race. The course is a point to point event calling for considerable skill in navigation. The total distance for those who reach the final goal will be over 800 miles. The competitors include Captain De Haviland, last year’s winner, and the designer of no less than seven types represented this year, and his two sons. Two other designers. flying their own types' will be Percival, who will fly Prince George’s Gull, and Flight Lieut. Compel - , on a eomper machine. There will be one woman competitor, Mrs Patterson, but five women owners have also entered machines. Apparently British pilots are not superstitious, since the event which is the thirteenth begins to-mor-row, Friday, July 13.

N.Z. COMPETITORS FAREWELLED

AUCKLAND, July 13

“May success and good luck attend them in their race, and may Providence protect them throughout their flight,” said Mr Oliver Nicholson, Chairman of the New Zealand Centenary Air Race Committee al a private function arranged to bid farewell to Squadron-Leader Hewett and FlyingOfficer Kay the co-pilots of the Committee’s entry, a De Haviland rapide plane in the London-Melbourne race. The two pilots are to leave by the Ruahine, which sails for London at daybreak.

The guests included Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, who passed through Auckland on his return to Australia, after his visit to the United States. “I think the gratitude of the whole of New Zealand is due to the gentlemen who have given their support to the venture,” said Squadron Leader Hewett. He concluded by mentioning that he felt considerably more nervous at that moment than he would be at the start, waiting to open the throttle. “I wish to thank you sincerely for the sporting effort behind the venture,” said Pilot Kay. “I hope the trust put in us will not be misplaced. We will put every effort into the flight." JEAN BATTEN. DUNEDIN, July 13. Miss Jean Batten arrived this morning from Timaru escorted by Squadron-Leader Findlay. She was welcomed at the aerodrome by ths Mayor and Executive of the Aero Club, and later was tendered a civic reception in the Town Hull, winch was attended by over 4000 people. She was tumultously received at every appearance. Women’s organisations of Otago accorded her a special welcome at a function in the Town Hall, and when the aviatrix left the theatre last night, her car was mobbed. The Otago Daily Times Company has established a fund to provide a scholarship for training aviation pilots for a certificate, the preparation for which costs £5O.