FLYING NEWS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11829, 10 January 1933, Page 5

FLYING NEWS

BRITAIN TO CAPE NON-STOP. R.A.F. ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECORD. FAVORABLE WINDS ESSENTIAL. (British Official Wireless.) REGBY, Jail. 6. Flight-lieut. Nicholetts lias Been selected as second pilot-navigator for the Royal Air, Force long distance iion-stop flight from Cranwell to the Cape, in place of Fliglit-Lieut. Belt, who is ill. The attempt will bo made oil the first suitable day between February 5 and 12. Die flight will be made from Cranwell. Lines., in the direction of Capetown, and in order to surpass tlie present World record of 5012 miles (held by the United States), the machine must get as far as Zesfontein, Southwest Africa. To stand as a new-re-cord, it must surpass the previous best at least 100 kilometres (about 65 miles). . . ,

The pilots will be Squadron-Leader 0. R. Gayford and Fliglit-Lieut. Nichole tts.

The aeroplane is the Fairey longrange monoplane. It was designed more than four years ago. In the meantime the long-range performance has been put up b ; v, both America mid France. Although the experiment

to have high teehinal value, , the chance of a great spectacular world record flight is less than it was even a year ago.

The flight could only achieve a record in conditions of somewhat rare occurrence. With its overload of fuel the take-off is very long. There is a preparedj runway at Craiiwell in the direction east and west. Owing to the need of economy no runway has been prepared in an alternative direction.

For ,any chance of making a great distance the airmen need a westerly wind for the take-off and a northerly wind for the European part of the flight.

The route will he almost a straight one, passing by way of Marseilles, Tunis, tlie Sahara and down the West Coast. Tlie distance to Capetown is about 6000 miles.

As in the previous British attempts the aeroplane is fitted with the ‘robot' pliot a contrivance which automatically keeps the aeroplane on a ieve l keel. HINKLER’S FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Jan. 8.

When Squadron-Leader Hinkler left Feltan at 3 a.m. yesterday for Australia he intended to make his first landing in Brindisi, but as no word has been received from him his friends are beginning to conjecture whether he h-a.s not gone all out while thepetrol lasted and come down in some remote spot beyond Brindisi or Northern Africa.

The fact that he has not been sighted at Brindisi has given rise to a theory that he might have pushed

* The Air Ministry imposed rather exacting conditions before they issued an airworthy certificate even questioning some of the devices Hinkler used on his earlier Australian recordbreaking flight.

ANXIETY IN BRITAIN

MAY HAVE' DESCENDED IN BALKANS OB ITALY

(U.P. A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright ' (Received Jan. 9, 7 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 9. Telegrams from Rome state that no news of Squadron-Leader Hinkler had been, received up to eleven o’clock on Sunday night. English papers are featuring anxiety, though they are suggesting that if he descended in an ina'ccessibl e spot in the Balkans there may be no 1 news for days, or if be attempted to make Athens the first stop he may have landed in Italy, where there are no week-end staffs at the aerodromes.

WHAT COURTENAY SAYS

“NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS”

(U.P.A. by Elec. TeJ. Copyright! (Received Jan. 10, 12*7 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 9.

Courtenay, the well-known airman, who accompanied Neville Stack to India, points out that with long-dist-ance fliers, especially record breakers, no news is generally good news, whereas, iif 'there is a crash, it is reported within 24 hours. ..Hinkler could have reached Alleppo non-stop. It (was quite likely that he had refuelled at some small arodrome and had flown over Alleppo, Baghdad and Basra- to the Persian Gulf. He would not be surprised «f the first news comes from Bushire or Jask. MRS HINKLER IN AUCKLAND WORRIED, BUTNOT ALARMED (Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 9. Although she is naturally worried at the absence of news concerning her husband, Mrs Hinkler, who is at present jn Auckland, is not unduly alarmed-

“I have had periods of anxious waiting when, my husband as on previous long distance ig > she saW, -and I have become more or less accustomed to them, now any feeling of ansie y is , ways modified hy faith in my husband.”

Mrs Hinkler added that she " cthved a cable from her hushan , just before his departure from England.

* '‘When Bert is on a long distance flight”, she said, “he always like to make his first ‘hop’ a gooff on and he also has a preference ,f?r -flying high. I think it is possible . that he may have been flying with a following wind. In this c s he might quite,easily have passed over Brindisi .(without being see • , ‘ The absence of definite news is * a A %

little alarming, but then, my husband has been on other long distance solo flights. I have always takGn.tho view that no news does not necessarily mean bad news. 1 am immensely proud ,of his flying; and have implicit faith in his ability.”

, Mrs Hinkler, who is accompanied by her sister (Miss M. ViWan) arrived at, Auckland from - England by the Rangitata on December 21. When she arrived, she received a cable from her husband informStng her of the postponement of his departure and suggesting that she should spend a holiday in New Zealand. Accordingly, Mrs Hinkler and Mrs Vivian have been spending the last three weeks touring, the North Island. Mrs Hinkler said the date of her departure for Sydney depended on further new's from her husband.

THE SOUTHERN CROSS

WHEN ARRIVAL IS EXPECTED

PLANE AVILL CARRY FLOOD-

LIGHT.

IN CASE OF NEED TO LAND

IN DARK

iPress AssociationJ NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 9,

Uncertainty as to the time and date for the start of Sir Clias. Kingsford Smith’s trans-Tasman flight was removed by a short wave communication' received at the radio control stationed at New Plymouth aerodrome to-night. Those in charge at Gerriugongj beach stated that the flight would commence (weather permitting) at 9 a.m. (Sydney time) on Thursday, January 12. It was stated that searchlights would be necessary at New Plymouth, as the Southern Cross would carry its own powerful floodlight for uso should, a delay be caused on the flight and a landing in the dark necessitated.

Arrangements at New Plymouth have been completed, including the establishment of radio and telegraphic stations at the aerodrome.

According to the plans, the flight will occupy about twelve hours, ' so the Southern Cross should land at approximately 5 o’clock in the afternoon. PLANE FINALLY INSPECTED SPEED MAY NOT EXCEED 90 M.P.H. ' WEATHER FORECAST (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Jan. 10, 12.23 a.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 9. Everything is in readiness for Smithy’s Tasman flight. The final inspection of the Southern Cross took place to-day. She takes off from Mascot aerodrome at 1 pan. to-morrow and arrives at Gerringong an flour later. Already a large crowd of campers, motorists and local residents has gathered at the beach to witness his departure.

The airspeed over the Tasman is not expected to exceed 90 miles per hour owing to the addition, of extra gear. The forecast for the next 21 hours is for hot inland south-east to eastwinds on the coast, squally at time* ; cvclonic conditions about New Caledonia; fresh to strong north-west to west winds over the south-west halt of the Tasman.

"Smithy” stated that every effort M-a-s being made for the hop-off for New Zealand between 2 and 4 o’clock on Wednesday morning.

CO-PILOT’S CAREER

STORY OF CAPTAIN P. G. TAYLOR

Co-pilot with Air-Commodore Sir Charles Kiugsford Smith. Captain P. G. Taylor, of Sydney, has been flying since 1916. Australian buru. lie joined tne ItOWiL Flying Corps in England in August. 1916. and gained his ‘wings' in December. He was then posted to No. 66 (.Fighter) squadron, and arrived in France in March, 1917. Three months later he was awarded the Militaiw Cross for conspicuous bravery in aerial combat. When the Armistice' was signed ho held the rank of captain. Returning to Australia, he was detailed to flying duty at Point Cook. Six months later he joined the Australian Aircraft and Engineering Compaiiv, as pilot and continued in that capacity until the close of 1921 when he gave up flying for five years. Visiting England in 1926 he recoin rnenced flying and on his return to Australia purchased a seaplane foi taxi work until he joined Australian National Airways, Ivingsford Smith’s company as a pilot on the Brisb.ane-Sydney-Melbourne route. He has been asociated with the company ever since. AMY’S CAPE RECORD. GOLD MEDAL SPECIALLY STRUCK. (Ilrilisii Official Wireless.', RUGBY, Jan. 6.

Mrs. Amy Mollison was presented with a specially struck gold medal at Mansion House to-day i’pr her achievement in beating her husband’s record for the Cape flight. The presentation was made on behalf of the League of Youth.