AIR RACE CHANCES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 212, 21 August 1934, Page 7

AIR RACE CHANCES

Sir Keith Smith’s Views "SMITHY” AND WILEY POST By Telegraph—Preus Association. WELLINGTON, August 20. After an extended business tour of Great Britain, Europe and the United States, Sir Keith Smith, the well-known pioneer in longdistance flying, who with his brother, the late Sir Ross Smith, was the first to fly from England to Australia, arrived in Wellington to-day by the Mak lira from San Francisco on his return to Australia. Sir Keith, who is representative in Australia of Vickers Ltd., of England, discussing tho forthcoming Melbourne centenary air race, expressed the opinion that .Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s chance?; of success were perhaps better than those of any other competitor provided his physique would withstand the stress of so severe a test lie was a man who knew the course intimately—a tremendous advantage—and he had acquired a fast plane. Moreover, he was a painstaking organiser. “In my view, the thoroughness of the organisation in England before the flight will have a marked bearing on the outcome,” said Sir Keith.

Of the other competitors Wiley Post was tho outstanding rival to Sir Charles. The American was a man who look long chances, and he. wa's no tyro at distance flying. Post’s plan was to fly through the stratosphere. Such a scheme was full of difficulty ou account of the tax upon tho engine power and the problem of landings arising through the difficulty of judging distance* from great heights. Weather conditions would exercise a powerful influence on tho result of the race. Nobody could make provision for weather variations encountered upon a route involving so many territories and climatic conditions. Sir Keith said that he was not surprised to hear that most of the. American nominations for tho race had been withdrawn. A number of aspirants had forwarded tho necessary nomination fee hoping to secure the necessary finance after entering. Ho believed that about 20 aircraft would start in the speed race, 12 ot which would bo American owned.