MR H. F. BROADBENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 82, 5 March 1938, Page 9

MR H. F. BROADBENT.

NEW ATTEMPT ON RECORD. LONDON, Feb. 21. Mr H. F. Broadbent is completing preparations for a new attack on the solo flight record from Lympne to Darwin, and also for the official world solo record from Lympne to Sydney. His attempt will be made under the auspices of the Federation Internationale Aeronautique, which demands a speed equal to at least 100 kilometres an hour for the elapsed time between the departure and arrival over the shortest possible route, which, for obvious reasons, will not be the route taken. Mr Broadbent may lower the light ’plane record between England and Australia of five days 15 hours, mads by McGregor and Walker (of Palmerston North) in the Melbourne Centenary air race. Mr Broadbent has purchased a Percival Vega Gull, specially for the attempt. The ’plane is now being completed at Luton. The engine is a Gipsy six, second series, with a controllable pitch propeller, built by De Havillnnd, and the construction is wholly British. The ’plane will carry 204 gallons of petrol—94 in the wings and 110 in the cabin—and will cruise at 130 to 135 miles an hour witli full tanks, but at! 150 miles per hour when fitted as a normal four-seater. These speeds correspond with the speeds of Miss Jean Batten’s machine, in which she broke the record.

Mr Broadbent, to harmonise the attempt with the 150th Anniversary celebrations, has christened the machine Sirius. Its colour is dark blue with silver wings, on which are the white letters GAFEH. The four-seater cabin is almost filled bv the tanks, leaving one narrow seat. The ’plane is fitted with a special parachute door and equipment, landing lights, navigation lights, blind-flying instruments, and a special , compass, “like cheesedish.” Mr Broadbent explains that an ordinary compass grows very small to the eye during a long flight. Enthusiasts who know the ’plane flown by Mr John Collins, of Beaudesert, Queensland, will recognise Mr Broadbent’s ’plane as being of the same type. Mr Broadbent visited Ireland last week in a similar machine to familiarise himself with all its “gadgets.” He had a good deal of blh’d-flving nractice. The best time for the flight would be in April, when there is a full moon, but Mr Broadbent is trying to arrange a start on March 15, leaving Lympne aerodrome at 3 a.m., and keep to the following itinerary:—Arrive Athens, 5 p.m.; leave Athens second day, 3 a.m.; arrive Basra, 5 p.m.; leave 7 p.m.; arrive Allahabad, third day. 1 a.m., depart 9 p.m.; arrive Alor Star fourth day, 4 p.m.; depart fifth day, 3 a.m., arrive Rambang 5 p.m., depart 9 p.m.; arrive Darwin, sixth day, G a.m.