LURE OF LONG FLIGHTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17326, 25 November 1919, Page 7

LURE OF LONG FLIGHTS.

VOYAGE TO AUSTRALIA. MANY SEEK OPPORTUNITY. MANUFACTURERS BESIEGED. Bv TolecraDli —Press Association— (Received 5.5 p.m.) United Service. LONDON. Nov. 21. Though the adventures already attendant on the Australian flight have shown the grim hazards of the enterprise, flyers remain undeterred. Young Australians are pleading with every manufacturer to provide them with aeroplanes. The Bristol Company has a list of more than 100 men eager to embark, and other companies are in a similar position. The numbers are gradually thinning as the men are called up for repatriation, but the boys wait until the last moment, hoping to get a ''bus.'' The newspapers are mystified regarding Captain Matthews, and are discussing whether he has been force i to land somewhere in Germany, and been interned. The Air Ministry states that nothing definite has been heard sinco November 2. Captain Matthews did not ask permission to fly over Germany, and if he landed there would probably be imprisoned. MATTHEWS REAPPEARS. DETAINED BY HEAVY SNOW. (Received 10.25 p.m.) United Service. LONDON, Nov. 21. Sopwiths state that Captain Matthews telegraphed on November 19%tating that je was held up in 2ft of snow at Gouzenheim, and suggesting that he should return to England and restart. Sopwiths replied " Keep on." They are not concerned with the prize, but are wishful that their machine should reach Australia without unnecessary risks. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 10.-15 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 21. Captain Matthews, who is competing in the flight to Australia, is at Dagsburg, where he is detained owing to there being 18in of snow on the ground. His machine is in excellent condition. "KANGAROO'S" DEPARTURE PROPITIOUS BEGINNING. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Nov. 23. The crew of the Blackburn-Kan-garoo aeroplane were in the highest spirits when they departed from Hounslow in bright sunshine. They repeatedly waved and shouted farewells to the crowd,, who gave them a rousing send-off. As the machine bounded forward the airmen's " cheerios " could be heard above the whirr of the engines. The Kangaroo took off cleanly, and mounted easily to 1000 ft. It circled the aerodrome three times, the crew waving vigorously until out of sight. They received sheaves of telegrams and 'etters until the moment of departure, including messages from Prince Albert, Mr. Winston Churchill and General Sykes. They carjy despatches to the GovernorGeneral and others. There was a 25-35 mile wind at 2000 ft above the Channel, and in North France some detached clouds were flying, but the weather was generally propitious, and the visibility fair. Captain Wilkins told the Australian Press Association that he had arranged to reach Lyons to-day, and would then be hot on the track of Captain Boss Smith. He hoped to overtake him soon, but personally was less interested in winning the prize than in accumulating all possible scientific information. He intended to keep a full and accurate log, specially prepared for 52 entries which would be made halfhourly, covering in the minutest way the meteorological and atmospheric conditions. This would provide valuable data for the future. The equipment includes a large number of instruments in order to record variations, such as wet and dry valve barometers, aneroid baro- • meter, course and drift indicator, position finding and navigation instruments of his own design, and a density meter instrument for measuring humidity. Detailed notes will be kept of cloud percentage, and the height and thickness of various layers. Particular attention will be paid to turbulence, especially in the tropics, where it is anticipated interestingobservations will be obtainable. Captain Wilkins' Arctic experiences will be useful in determining what food could be carried in the least space, to meet an emergency. ROSS SMITH'S ATTEMPT. HEAVY WEATHER MET. A. and N.Z. SYDNEY. Nov. 24. The special cablegram to the Sun from Captain Ross Smith states that after leaving Cairo he flew along the coast to Gaza, thence inland across the Sea of Galilee to Damascus, thence to Tadmor, and across 1 the desert to Abukamel. He followed the Euphrates and thence via Bagdad, Kut, and the Garden of Eden to Basra. The weather up to ' the last day was blowy and rainy, | which militated against good flying. ! Severe weather greatly hampered Captain Ross Smith during his flight. There was a torrential downpour when he landed at Pisa, I which reduced the surface of the I aerodrome to a quagmire, on which | lay two inches of water. The ! machine was completely' bogged when he attempted to depart. The engine was started, but the machine refused to budge, and sank deeper into the mire. Ultimately Italian mechanics dug it out. Departure was necessarily postponed. I Lieutenant R. Parker, of the Australian Flying Corps, is negotiating with the Beardmore Aeroplane Company with a view to competing in the Australian flight.