The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1928. A FLIGHT FRAUGHT WITH GREAT DANGER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10476, 5 January 1928, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1928. A FLIGHT FRAUGHT WITH GREAT DANGER.

ft- may he reckoned in some quarters that the hitch that took place in connection with the projected Tasman flight owed its origin to jealousy on the part of the Federal authorities, seeing that the proposal was promoted in this Dominion. ■Wo prefer to believe, however, that it was dictated solely on. the ground of public policy. The project certainly does not seem to have had brought to bear Upon it as much expert opinion as was-desirable. It will bo agreed, for instance, that the Federal authorities should have been more fully consulted on such an important matter, seeing that they had the power to veto the flight. What transpired between even the Government of this Dominion arid the promoters is, also, far from clear. Drily when the fliers reached' Australia did they learn authoritatively that both the-.. Federal ... ! ■ ' •- • ' •' ' *'*• f■ s '

mid New Zealand authorities considered the typo of machine proposed to be used for such a flight unsuitable. Perhaps it wlas only natural that tho f promoters should have regarded as suitable a machine siinilar in type to that in which Lindbergh made his famous flight across the Atlantic. It is not questioned that such ; a machine ; is capable qf long distance flight. Wliqt is- held is that for a distance flight across the. water a flying boat or an amphibian is more suitable. The promoters of the. -'Tasman flight could not have tpen aware of Lindbergh’s views on the subject of ocean flights. Interviewed in Mexico City last month, he averred that he had no intention of making any flight across the Pacific., His experience, he said, was, all against taking unnecessary chances over large bodies, of water, “Modern equipment,” h,e added, “is still too insecure and a forced landing oyer water is usually, fatal. No flying boat has yet been, perfected with a sufficient radius for a flight over, say, the Pacific. What’s thc 'use of taking chances with men’s lives, trying to cross more oceans? They’re merely stunts . now.” As matters stand, on account of the further intervention of the N.Z. Government, the projected . 'flight across the Tasman may still, however, eventuate. The Government of. this country has suggested to the Federal Government that the flight should be permitted to proceed without responsibility .to either Government and the suggestion has been agreed tof hut, it would seem, with reluctance.. Just at the moment unsuitable weatlfer is being experienced,. but, when meteorological conditions become favorable, the New Zealand fliers may hop off oh their journey of some 14.30 land miles which, under good conditions, would, it is estimated, take about 14 hours. If Lieut. Momjrieff and Oapt. Hook should' still decide to ptrqseetite their great adventure, everybody will, of course, wish' them the best of luck, but, in view, of the fact tfhat the air experts both, of Australia and New Zealand regard the class of plane to be used as unsuitable, anxiety will, naturally, be felt for their safety.