HINKLER’S FLIGHT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 February 1928, Page 9

HINKLER’S FLIGHT

WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT.

FEATURES EMPHASISED

RELIABILITY OF ’PLANE

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 12.5 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Feb. 27. Sir Samuel Hoare, in answer to a question in the House of Commons, stated: “1 cannot at present add much to- the information given by the Press regarding Hinkler’s outstanding achievement, which I am glad to see has been given the prominence it undoubtelly deserves.”

Sir Samuel detailed the records broken and said that Hinkler’s total flying time was 1.34 hours. Therefore, if the flight had been continuous day and night, it would have occupied only five clays, fourteen hours. Taking the. Avliole time spent on the flight, including night and day halts, the distance worked out at thirty miles per hour. Taking the actual time occupied in flying, the speed averaged 89 miles per hour. The fact that 12,000 miles were covered without repairs was a. striking testimony to -the reliability of the machine and engine. One of the most striking features of the flight Avas that the machine used was a standard Avro-Avian, with a cirrus engine, Avhich had been in use ,si nee 1926. The only alteration before the flight was the incorporation of extra tankage. A machine of this type complete apart from extra tanks, costs £739 and approximately Hinkler’s consumption of oil cost only £SO. These figures were a striking indication of the great potentialities of aircraft for communications over the vast stretches of the Empire, over Avhidi other means of communication Avas either non-existent or relatively undeveloped.

BUST OF AIRMAN

TO COMMEMORATE HIS FLIGHT

Receh r ed 12.5 p.m to-day,

LONDON, Feb. 27. The Czecho-Slovakian sculptor, Otaknr Steinherger. desiring to commemorate the Australian national hero, lias decided to make a bronze bust of Hinkler. Avhich lie is asking the Royal Aei’o Club to hand to Hinkler.