BROADBENT’S FLIGHT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 127, 30 April 1937, Page 7

BROADBENT’S FLIGHT.

STEADY PROGRESS. RANGOON, April 29. Tho Australian aviator, Mr H. F. Broadbent, who arrived at 2.10 p.m., left for Akyab at 3.25 p.m. Earlier, concern liact been felt for Mr Broadbent’s safety. No wireless signals had been received from him, but the ships had been asked to keep a look-out. DELAYED BY WEATHER. - Received April 30 9.55 a.m. RANGOON, April 29. 'Air Broadbent returned to Rangoon at 6 p.m. owing to bad weather. He hopes to take off early to-morrow. Mr Broadbent hopes to reach England from Darwin in about 6 days 16 hours. 110 bolds the round-Australia record and bis solo time from England to Australia was a record until Aliss .Jean Batten broke it last year. On bis present flight lie is using a Leopard Moth singleonginod monoplane named Windclla, from the aboriginal name of a station his family owned at Narrandera ; the word means “Music of the Winds.” The flier carries only bare necessities. The main load is petrol, for which he has lmd long-range tanks installed, holding 99 gallons. This petrol, weighing almost one-third of a ton, gives a range of at least 1600 miles. The machine is fully equipped with navigational and blind-flying instruments. It docs not carry wireless; it cruises at about 120 miles ail hour. Given reasonably good weather, Air Broadbent is considered to havo every chance of breaking the existing solo re cord time of 7 days 19 hours 50 minutes, set by the English pilot, Air 11. L. lliook, but tho difficulties lie has encountered may now spoil his chances. The absolute record limo to England is 5 days 15 hours established by Alcssrs CathcartJones mid Waller on their return flight to England in a twin-engined Comet machine. AIR BROOK’S PROGRESS. Received April 30, 11 a.m. BULAWAYO, April 29. Air H. L. Brook has arrived here from Australia. Ho hopes to reach the Cape to-morrow and start for London on Saturday. MRS BONNEY HELD UP. Received April 30, 9.55 a.m. SINGAPORE, April 29. Airs Hilda Bonney is still held up at Bangkok owing to bad weather.