THE TASMAN SEA FLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19170, 9 November 1925, Page 11

THE TASMAN SEA FLIGHT.

NOT AN EASY TASK. TOO MUCH PETROL NEEDED. [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY. Oct. no. In regard to Captain Kingsford Smith's project, for an air flight from Australia to New Zealand, it is pointed out that the great difficulty in the way is that the machine must carry 2h tons of fuel; that is, if Mr. Lebbens Hordern's giant flying boat is used, as has been proposed. Bought about four years ago. the flying boat is the biggest air machine that Australia has known. It has two 375 horse power Rolls Royce engines—the driving equipment used on the Yickers Amphibian that carried the Smith brothers from England to Australia. The appointments are on an elaborate scale. The upholstery of the cabin is of velvet corduroy, silver vases adorn the walls. But the big flying boat has yet to fly. It was never assembled. A private hangar at Botany contains the partly unpacked cases. Consider the fuel aspect of the Tasinan sea flight; it means one "hop" of about 1000 miles and about 18 hours up aloft altogether. The Fairev seaplane in which Goble a.nd Mclntyre flew round Australia consumed 20 gallons an hour.