FLIGHT TO ENGLAND

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 304, 21 November 1928, Page 7

FLIGHT TO ENGLAND

HURLEY PARTY’S PROGRESS. PASSAGE ACROSS PERSIAN GULF. TRYING ORDEAL. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). Received November 21, 10.30 a.m. BAGDAD, Nov. 20. Arriving yesterday evening from Bushire, Captain Frank Hurley, the Australian airman, attempted early to take off for Ramleh, but mud prevented him. However, he succeeded later. Captain Hurley states that the passage across the Persian Gulf was a most trying ordeal. It consisted .of lighting sandstorms. WORST OVER. CHOICE OF AMERICAN ’PLANE. Captain Matthews, who reached the East Indies in the flight for the Commonwealth prize of £IO,OOO in 1919 stated in Melbourne the other day that he expected Captain Hurley and his companions, Flying Officers Moir and Owen, to attain their objective. The worst part of the flight was over, and there were good aerodromes at every 500 miles on the remainder of the trip. “The only thing against them, he went on, “is the possibility of running into severe winter weather in Europe. They might have to fly through heavy snowstorms. I don’t think they can get from Ramleh to London in one stage. “Personally, I am sorry they chose an American machine instead of a British ’plane. The Spirit of Australia iis doing well, but a British machine would have done as well or better.”