Further Tasman Aspirants

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 268, 15 November 1934, Page 6

Further Tasman Aspirants

Two Young New Zealanders NIGHT FLIGHT PLANNED United Press Association. —L!y Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 7.25 p.m. SYDNEY, Nov. 14. Two young New Zealanders —Raymond Whitehead, aged 24, and Rex Nicholl, aged 2(s—intend taking, off from Mascot this evening for Gen-in-gong beach, where they will load 117 gallons of petrol preparatory to a flight to New Zealand. This supply‘of fuffi will give them a flying range of 20 hours and the aviators intend to'leave immediately it is loaded, flying throughout the night. They hope to arrive at New Plymouth at 6 a.m., New Zealand time. They will fly a Puss Moth named Faith in New Zealand, and it is understood their machine is the. first Pu-s Moth to have been brought to Australia. It was obtained by Whitehead’s father, who is a business-man in Wellington. Preparations for the flight, such as installing tanks for extra fuel supply and painting the name on the ’plane, were carried out at Mascot at nighttime by friends of the aviators, virtually in secrecy. There was no intention to leave withcut proper authority, however, and Commonwealth officials to-day subjected the machine to the customary tests, which wore successfully passed. Whitehead informed the New Zealand Press Association that he had every confidence in their accomplishing a successful flight. The ’plane has been overhauled by a good mechanic. Bad weather is predicted for the first 209 miles of the hop to New Zealand. Whitehead was born in New Zealand and went to England in .1930, where he. trained with the Royal Air Force. Helms done extensive flying since he arrived in Australia. He holds a “B” license end has done 400 flying hours. Nicholl is a resident of Manly. They will take turns in piloting the singloengined machine. Petrol tanks occupy most of the space in the ’plane. To give themselves more log room the aviators are flying without boots. They will carry no radio. “We would rather fly at night,” said Nicholl. ‘You can’t get landmarks off the sea or sky in daytime. Wc have the benefit of stars at night.” The ’plane is at least four years old and was rebuilt by the fliers themselves.

Bad Weather Deters Airmen

Received Thursday, 1.10 a.m. SYDNEY, Nov. 11.

Whitehead and Nicholls left Mascot for Gerringong beach at 5.35 p.m., but turned back to Mascot owing to bad weather and are not loaviug for New Zealand to-niglit. New Plymouth Airport Officials Set to Work Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night. No information regarding the intention of the airmen Whitehead and Nicholl to land at New Plymouth has been received here other than to-night’s cable from Sydney and no special arrangements had been made for their landing until airport officials set to work to-night. Surprise for Whitehead’s Father Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The first intimation that Whitehead's father had that his son even contemplated a flight across the Tasman was a telephone ring from a local newspaper to-night stating that he was about to leave. His only comment was a startled “Oh!” Whitehead is the only son of Mr. A. P. Whitehead, principal of Whitehead and Pear’s, a large Wellington drapery house. He was educated at- Wellington College and Victoria University College and he was a member ot the literary staff of a local newspaper from 1927 to 1930. when he joined the R.A.F. on a short-service commission. This he relinquished last year and, returning to New Zealand, took out a commercial license . He left for Australia, where lie has been operating an air taxi se.viee. He was taught, to fly by FlyingOfiicor Knv, who crossed the Tasman with H.cwett, and his most intimate friend in the Air Force was Menzics, who flew the Tasman alone in 1931.