NEW OCEAN FLIERS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12402, 15 November 1934, Page 5

NEW OCEAN FLIERS

PUSS MOTH TO LEAVE N.S.W. ' ATTEMPT TO CROSS TASMAN TWO YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS PLANE WITH RANGE OF TWENTY HOURS. HOPE TO REACH NEW PLYMOUTH AT 6 a.m. U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. CapyHcht. (Received Nov. 14, 7.25 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 14. Two young New Zealanders, Ron Whitehead., 24, and Rex Nic-holl, 25 intend taking off from Mascot this evening tor Gerringong beach, "wbeic they Will load 117 gallons of petrol preparatory to a flight to New Zealand. This supply of fuel will ftivo them a flying Tango of twenty hours and the aviators intend to leave- Immediately it is loaded’, flying throughout the night, and hope to arrive in New Plymouth at G a.m. Now Zealand time.

They fly a Pass Moth named Fait 11 in New Zealand., and it is undedstoocli the machine is' the-' first Puss Mobil to have been brought to Australia. it was obtained by Mr Whitehead’s father, who is a businessman fn Wellington

Preparations for the flight, sue ll as installing tanks for extra tnol supply, and painting- the name on the plane, were carried out at Mascot ati night time by friends of the aviators virtually in secrecy. There was no intention to leave Avithout propor authority, however, and t’ho Commonwealth- officials today subjected the- machine to the customary testis, which were successfully passed.

Mr Whitehead informed the New Zealand Press Assoc-iat ; on that he had every confidence in accomplishing a- successful flight. The plane had been overhauled by a good mechanic. Bad weather is predicted for filiei first tAVo hundred miles'of the hep to NeAv Zealand. Messiis Wiliitchoad and Nichclfs loft Afar,cot 'for Gerringcng: beach at' 5.35 and should arrive at 6.15.

WHITEHEAD DONE EXTENSIVE FLYING. SINGT.E-ENGTNED ArA.CITT.Yiv AND NO RADIO. . . OLD PLANE REBUILT BY FLYERS U.P.A. hy Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Nov. 14, 10.20 p.m) SYDNEY, Nov. 14. AL- Whitehead was horn in Ncav Zealand and /went to, England U 1 1930. He trained with the Royal Air Force and hay done - extensive- flying s-ju.ee he arrived in Australia. He holds a “B” license, having done fou-y hundred flying hours. Air. Nicholl is a resident of lyThey will take turns in piloting the ' -single-engined machine-. The petrol .tanks' occupy most of tlie space in flip plane. To give them more leg room, the Twin tors are flying without boots. They carry no radio.

“We woulj rather fly all night” said Mr Nicholl. “You can’f get landmarks off sea or the sky m the daytime but we have tlm benefit cf the stars at night.’ The plane ah least four years old, and was rebuilt by the flyers i themselves.

FOG AND MIST

WEATHER EXTREMELY UNSETTLED. .

(U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyi-icht). (Rec. Nov. lb, 1.44 a.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 14

■ The Whitehead and Nicholls flight was delayed by bad weather. They were unable to land at Gerringong owing to fog and mist, which entirely obscured the beach. The weather here is extremely unsettled. However the aviators hope to leave tomorrow night, assuming that conditions are satisfactory here and over the Tasman.

PROPOSED LANDING AT NEW

PLYMOUTH,

AIRPORT NEVER ADVISED

(Press Association.' NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 14 No information regarding the intention of the airmen Whitehead and Nicholls to land at New Plymouth has been received here other than tonight’s cable from Sydney and no special arrangements had been made for their landing until the airport ■•officials"set to' work tonight;

LATER NEWS.

FLIGHT POSTPONED LAST NIGHT (U.r.A. bv IClec. Tel. CODTrlaJitA (Rec. Nov. 15, 12.13 a.m.) ' SYDNEY, Nov, 14. Whitehead snd Nicholi did not land at Gerrfrigong,'but; teltufneci fli Mascot, It is understood‘that Vwing to bad weather they arA not leaving tonight.” : t‘2 '

WHITEHEAD’S CAREER

SON OF A WELLINGTON DRAPER (Press Association! WELLINGTON, Nov. 14 The first intimation that 'W hitehead’s father had that his son even contemplated a "flight across the Tasman, was a telephone ring from the ‘Dominion’ tonight, stating that he was about to leave. His only comment was a. startled “Oh”. Whitehead’s name is Raymond (not Ron as cabled) and he is the only son of Mr, A. W.