DIFFICULT PART COVERED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 278, 22 October 1934, Page 7

DIFFICULT PART COVERED.

MOLLISONS AT KARACHI.

BAGDAD, Oct. 20. The Mollisons arrived here at 7.10 p.m. A vast crowd of Arabs and many Britons collected at the airport and cheered their arrival. Mollison said that, having covered the most difficult stage non-stop, he does not anticipate any difficulty during the remainder of the journey. The Comet behaved perfectly, although they were obliged to fly at a great height in order to avoid bad weather. They arrived at Bagdad with two hours’ petrol supply. Engineers inspected the Comet and declared .it fit for immediate resumption. The Mollisons departed at 8.40 p.m., declaring they were confident that they would arrive at Allahabad on Sunday. The Mollisons arrived at Karachi at 4.35 a.m. (10.15 local time). Their ’plane gleamed in the bright sunlight and swooped gently down and made a perfect landing. Wonderful scences of excitement were witnessed.

Lokiug quite fit, Mrs Mollison received greeters with a sunny smile and said the machine had ' behaved marvellously. They had no engine trouble, but added that the night was very misty. Diffidence concerning the petrol supply made them halt at the Dright Road aerodrome here. The journey was quite uneventful apart fram facing head winds. The condition of the aerodrome is excellent.

MOLLISON UNDAUNTED

FULL SPEED TO BE USED

DEPARTURE FROM KARACHI

Received October 22, 10.15 a.m. KARACHI, Oct. 21

“I was ahead of everyone. It is very bad luck, but I will not give in,” said Mollison. ‘‘We shall have to go full speed ahead to make up for the enforced delay. Had it not been for this we would liave been at Singapore on Monday morning.” Repairs to the undercarriage were not completely remedied until 6 p.m., when they attempted to take off, but the machine developed engine trouble. The Mollisons started again after the repair of the minor engine trouble at 6.30 p.m. They returned again at 7.30 and said the map supplied at Karachi was apparently an unsuitable guide for night flying. They added that the machine behave alright and decided to resume the flight and left at 2.35 a.m.

Mollison was climbing into the ’plane when a zealous official, mistaking him for a Kurdish coolie owing to his parachute equipment being similar to a coolie’s dress, grabbed his belt and pulled Mollison out of the machine. Mollison turned in amazement and smilingly accepted an apology.

Received October 22, 10.50 a.m. KARACHI, Oct. 21. Colonel Roscoe Turner arrived here at 5.55 p.m.