DE HAVILLAND CO. TO ENTER LONDON-N.Z. AIR RACE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22891, 10 March 1949, Page 3

DE HAVILLAND CO. TO ENTER LONDONN.Z. AIR RACE

(P,A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 9. The de Havilland Company is the first entrant in the London - to - Christchurch international air race to coincide with the opening of the Christchurch International Exhibition in 1953.

In announcing this on behalf of the parent British Company, Mr. J. A. Kerr, managing director of the company in New Zealand, said the aircraft would be an ultra-modern high-speed, long-distance one well worthy to make a strong bid against all comers to clinch Britain’s claim for leadership in post-war aviation. Mr. Kerr said he was not able at this early stage to name the aircraft which would be entered by his company nor give any indication of its probable performance. Comet’s Spectacular Victory

He said that his company had had a long and keen association with sporting aviation events from the earliest days of flying and culminating in the spectacular victory for British aircraft when Messrs. C. W. A. Scott and T. Campbell Black took the honours in a DH Comet in the Mildenhall-Mel-bourne international race in 1934.

In March, 1938, Group Captain (then Flying Officer) A. E. Clouston and Mr. V. Ricketts set England-Australia-New Zealand and return records which were held until postwar, multi-engined aircraft reduced the pre-war times of the twin-engined Comet.

‘‘That long-distance air records shall fall is, of course, inevitable,” said Mr. Kerr. ‘‘Spectacular as were the times in the Mildenhall-Melbourne race in 1934, they would be slashed by the leaders in the 1953 international.

"The date should be just right to allow several new types of British aircraft to compete—types on which hopes for the future supremacy of the British aircraft industry are staked.” His company, naturally, hoped that the No. 1 entry would lead a British team over the finishing line at Harewood. Thrilling News Mr. H. D. Christie, chairman of the organising committee and president of the Royal New Zealand Aero Club, said the announcement was thrilling news and of the greatest encouragement to the race committeeHe added that leading British manufacturers are displaying enthusiasm for the race proposals while the British Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Pakenham, had given all possible assistance.

Mr. Christie said that finance adequate to provide the £30,000 in prize money proposed for division between the open and handicap sections and to meet expenses was still the main concern. but he had no doubt that the full amount would be forthcoming. The conditions of the race, which would be completely different from the Melbourne Centenary race in view of the extreme range and extreme speeds. of aircraft in the open section, were yet to be drawn proDably under the supervision of the Royal Aero Club.

“A great point today,” said Mr. Christie, "is that the air race committee moves on from now from merely confident proposals to downright practical planning of the date and race details.”