SMITH'S GREAT FLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20987, 25 September 1931, Page 9

SMITH'S GREAT FLIGHT.

ATTEMPT TO SET RECORD. AIRMAN ARRIVES AT JAVA. FIRST STAGE OF 1532 MILES. SCARE OVER THE TIMOR SEA. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received September 25, 1.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 24. Ail-Commodore Kingsford Smith left Wyndham at 2 a.m. to-day, iocal time, for Cheribon, near Batavia, Java, 1532 miles, the first stage on his attempt to set a new record for the flight to England. Tho airman was in great heart and his machine in good condition. He told onlookers he would be back in 18 days. The weather conditions were perfect for to-day's flight to Cheribon. Tho flier passed over Bali Island, Dutch East Indies, roughly 600 miles from Batavia, at 1 p.m. local time. A message from Cheribon states that Smith arrived there at 5.30 p.m. local time. It was his longest solo non-stop flight. He did not enjoy the Timor Sea crossing as he had to do some blind flying before dawn. He had a scare over the water -when the gravity tank cut out. The airman was tired but was determined to secure the record and said he ! would leave at daylight for Victoria J Point. Everything is well with him. Air-Commodore Kingsford Smith plans j to reach London in seven days, against the j eight days 21 hours occupied by Mr. J. ! 11. Mollison, and lie is also anxious to beat Mr* C. W. A. Scott's record of nine days 13 hours for the journey from England back to Australia. His ioute for the outward journey is:—Wyndham to Cheribon (near Batavia), 1532 miles; Cheribon to Victoria Point, Burma, 1390; Victoria Point to Calcutta, 1196; Calcutta to Karachi, 1383; Karachi to Bagdad, 1690; Bagdad to Athens, 1232; Athens to Paris, 1514; Paris to London, 217. The airman is using an Avro Sports Avian machine which he calls "Southern Cross Minor." He has taken a full set of all the spare parts likely to be needed, an emergency radio set, and a rubber ring which, when inflated, would be sufficient to keep him afloat. The copyright story of Mr. Smith's flight has been secured for publication in the New Zealand Herald.