PLIGHT OVER TASMAN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 296, 12 November 1934, Page 4

PLIGHT OVER TASMAN

PLANNED FOR TO-MORROW

BY HEWETT AND KAY

AUCKLAND, Nov. 11. A transtasman flight from Richmond Aerodrome, Sydney, to the Auckland Aero Club a headquarters at Mangere will he undertaken oil Tuesday by three Aucklanders, Squadron-Leader J. B. Hewett, i’Jy-ing-Officer C. E. Kay and Mr I’. Stewart, if the weather is suitable. They will use the De Havilland Rapide machine entered .in the Lon-don-Melbourne air race by the New Zealand Centenary Air Race Committee, and expect to cover the distance in about nine hours.

Speaking on the transtasman telephone to Mr L. \V. Swan, secretary of the committee, Squadron-Leader Hewett said the machine was being overhauled hv the De Havilland representatives in Sydney, and should he ready for the flight by to-morrow. If weather conditions were suitable the take-olf would he at 7 a.in. Tuesday, New r Zealand time. They expected to average about 145 miles an hour, and would carry enough fuel to give them an adequate margin of safety. Radio messages will be transmitted from the machine during the flight on a wave-length of GOO metres. On arrival the fliers will be welcomed by representatives of the Air Race Committee and other prominent citizens. A fleet of nine light aeroplanes will be available for escort. On "Wednesday morning the fliers will leave in their machine for Palmerston North to commence a Dominion tour with Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor and Mr H. C. Walker, the Manawatu representatives in the race. The whole party with their two machines will return to Auckland on Fridav.

The ground staff at Mangere will be obliged to work the greater part of Tuesday night to get the machine ready for the air again by Wednesday morning. The large tanks used xa the air race and also on the ti-ans-tasman flight will he removed and replaced by smaller ones and seats to accommodate eight passengers will he fitted. There are also self-starters to be fitted to the two engines.