BY AIR TO ENGLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20174, 7 February 1929, Page 10

BY AIR TO ENGLAND.

PLANS OF KINGSFORD SMITH.

FLIGHT IN SOUTHERN .CROSS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday

Tho Press Association is advised that with anything like favorable weather the flight from Australia to England, which will be commenced possibly at the end of February by Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant C. T. Ulm in the Southern Cross, should break Mr. Bert Hinkler's record for the distance.

Their schedule calls for a 13 days' journey, making full allowance for adequate rest and time for refuelling and inspecting the machine. Pome of the aerodromes which they will encounter, however, are not entirely suitable for a machine of the size and carrying capacity of the Southern Cross, except under favourable weather conditions, and it is quite possible that unsuitable weather may mean delays at one or two points, which will upset the schedule. One the other hand, given , the most favourable conditions throughout, it is possible the journey may be accomplished iu less than 13 days, but this is rather a possibility than a probability. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm are hard at work in Australia securing all the necessary information for their flight in the Southern Cross to England. It is the intention of the airmen to cross Australia in one flight, starting from the aerodromo at Point Cook, Melbourne. If permission is obtained the Southern Cross will loave Australia at a point between Port Hedland and Wyndham. The most suitable locality is now being investigated. Singapore will bo tho next call and the last stages will bo Bagdad to Rome and Rome to London. The airmen say their flight is not primarily to attempt to eclipse Mr. Bert Hinkler's wonderful record, but it is a purely commercial undertaking.