"OFF TO AUSTRALIA"
NEW ZEALANDER SETS OUT.
A SECRET PLIGHT. ■ (Received' 8.29 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. Captain R. R. Chichester, a young and wealthy New Zealander, who has only flying for three months, kept his intention a secret. He gave no hint of 'such a quick departure. ' He unexpectedly 1 arrived at' Croydon 1 at midnight. Only a handful of aerodrome officials saw him take off in his Moth in brilliant moonlight at 3 a.m. and under perfect conditions. He shouted: “Oherrio. Off* to Australia.” It is understood that Lyons is his first stop. \ .
A SECRETIVE AIRMAN.
EVERYBODY SURPRISED.
(Received 12.'40 p.m.) • LONDON, December 20.
Uaptain Chichester arrived at Lyons at 10.22 a.m., : refuelled and loft at 11.10 a.m. for Tunis. He is a sdnof the rector of Shirwell and hails from Wellington. “I will break one of three things,” ■Captain Chichester said— ‘' the. record, the machine or myself. If I break Hinkler’S record I hope to fly on to Wellington. ' Australia has done splendidly in the air. I want to do something for New Zealand.” Captain Chichester’s father was most surprised at the flight, and his aunt, Mrs Paget, with whom he was staying, did not know he was leaving.
•Captain. Chichester filled the passenger's 'seat with extra petrol tanks, increasing the range of the plane by more' than 1000 miles. He stood by while the plane’s tanks were being filled. He did not mention that he intended to make a long flight. An official of the London Aero Club declared: “Chichester impressed me as quite a daring fellow. He did not talk about himself.”
“Cheerio, I am off for Australia,” were the airman’s last words. . A few officials were standing by as he stepped into the plane.
The machine is not equipped with wireless, and the voyager has made no plans to communicate his progress. He does not know himself where is stopping. He intends pushing on as far as possible each day. Do Haviland describes Captain Chichester as a pilot with a good air mind.
Captain Chichester is married. He has a wife and child living in New Zealand.
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Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 21 December 1929, Page 9
Word Count
352"OFF TO AUSTRALIA" Northern Advocate, 21 December 1929, Page 9
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