FROM SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13983, 20 November 1917, Page 8

FROM SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE

AVIATOR'S FLIGHT AT A,MILE A ! -/MINUTE. i _____ SYDNEY, November 7. ' An aerial trip which was undertaken ami', successfully carried through is worthy of notice, as ( ou it, after tho war, nre certain to lie based many important calculations relative to aerial communication in this country of wide spaces. The New South Wales Government has established quite an up-to-date and well-equipped ' flying school at Richmornl, near Sydney, and aeroplanes arc often seen over the city on calm days, There is one pilot who always does "stunts"J when he finds himself over Hyde Park, while- crowds lino the streets and gaspingly watch him looping the loop and .banking. Tho establishment, so far, has been purely a training centre, but recently the Minister for Education, with a viow to tho demands for aviators and information a'ftcr. the \var,| decided that Lieutenant Shitt, oiio of the instructors, should ily a Curtis biplane to -Melbourne. The biplane, with tho Minister as a passenger, left last Thursday morning, at daylight, intending to try to reach Melbourne late that afternoon. Three stops-Goulburii, Cootamundra, and Albany—were decided on, and mayoral bannuets and municipal lunches were arranged. . Trouble met the 'fliers at. Goulburn. They .flew the 18G miles to Cloulburn in a trifle over three hours, and were duly feted, and resumed the ■joumoy. The pilot t saw a clear field before him, except a man slightly to one side. As the machine began to move, the man stepped, away, and disclosed a post, against which, apparently, lie,had,been leaning. Tho lieutenant tried, too late,.to swing his biplano, but a wing-fip caught the post and was smashed. The 'journey was stopped, the Minister went on by train, ami the pilot sont to Richmond for a now wingtip. This arrived in a few hours, and the following morning, with a mechanic as passenger. Lieutenant Stutt resumed his flight. Hhc cuf'out the stop at Cootamundra, waiting .only to circle -'over's tho . town and wavo his hand to the people eagerly congrogated to. welcomo him, and then flew :oh to Albury, This flight, 256 miles in three hours thirty-eight minutes; is a record.for Australia, Astop of only an hour was,made.at Al-, bury. The'next and final stage of 190 miles .to,. Melbourne- was covered 'in three hours two minutes. The whole journey/of 632 miles was done.in nine -hours-fifty minutes,' actual flying time, about a mile a minute. 'The actual funning time' of train 'is * ■fifteen'hours'forty-three niinutes/ : : ■; '.;•. The aviator saidlthat;there are many ■• 'troublesome air currents and other difficulties, on the trip, but a regular air passage between, tho capitals is prnctic•ab'.e, piovidinir safe landing-places are J provided at intervals of about twelve' m'lcs, • ' • ~''