AVIATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 September 1934, Page 7

AVIATION

U.S.A. CRACK KILLED. [BY CABLE —PBESS ABSN. —OOPYBIGHT.] NEW YORK, September 3. A message from Cleveland states: Douglas Davis, an ..Atlanta aviator, who earlier in the day unofficially broke the land aeroplane speed record of 304.98 miles per hour, crashed to death as he led a field of fast racers, including Roscoe Turner, in a hundred mile special event at the National Air Races. At a terrific speed he went into a spin, and drove head on into the ground from 1000 feet altitude. Turner won the event with an average speed of 248.12 miles per hour. CIVIL ENTERPRISE. RUGBY, September 4. A report on the progress of civil aviation in 1933, issued by the Directorate of Civil Aviation at the Air Ministry, shows that as the result of extensions of the India service of Imperial Airways, Ltd., to Colombo, Ran- ( good, and Singapore, 8,500 miles of the total 11,000 miles air route between England and Australia is already in operation, while, the arrangements for the remaining link to Australia are now being completed by the Commonwealth Government.

The weekly airmail in ten days, on the 8,000 miles London-Cape Town service. is reported to have operated with satisfactory regularity during the year. Investigations are being followed up regarding the possibility of operating a trans-Atlantic air mail service, and arrangements are under discussion with Newfoundland and Canadian Airways Ltd. At the same time, a proposal for cooperation with American interests will, it is hoped, result in the early institution of a service between Bermuda and United States.

Referring to private and club flying, the report states that the number of light aeroplane clubs in operation at the end of 1933, including 18 in receipt of Government assistance was approximately 60.