FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 76, 25 February 1930, Page 8

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

3.15 P.M. EDITION

ENGINE TROUBLE AGAIN. NEAV ZEALANDERS’ EXPERIENCE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received February 25, 11.25 a.m. CALCUTTA, Feb. 24. Flying Officers Piper and Kay, who left Calcutta to-day for Akyab, had engine trouble throughout the Indian crossing owing to a piston rod melting at Jask. Soon after leaving Karachi, on Saturday, they encountered a heavy fog and were forced to turn back. They landed at Hyderbad in the sand, and departed in the afternoon, reaching Jodhpur, where they stayed the night. Yesterday, when proceeding to Allahabad, strong headwinds, combined with choked jets, caused a forced landing at Ghansi. They started again and when near Allahabad engine trouble was again experienced. Tho ’plane just managed to reach the aerodrome, when the engine failed. The engine was scraped and at seven o’clock this morning the New Zealanders started for Calcutta, hut near Gayu one of the jets choked and the fliers sought a landing spot. It seemed almost certain that they would crash in the jungle, when the choked jet suddenly cleared and they continued to Calcutta, which they reached at noon. The run from Allahabad to Calcutta was made in five hours, which is excellent time, and equal to that of the powerful Fokkers used in the Dutch air mail service.

The airmen stayed hero for two hours, then they departed for Akyab. Replying to a question as to when they would reach New Zealand, the airmen gloomily replied “Perhaps we never shall. "YVe won’t be surprised if the ’plane falls into the sea. YVe shall return to England by steamer.”