BID FOR RECORD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 7

BID FOR RECORD.

DELAY NOT SERIOUS.

CATCHING UP on RIVAL.

KINGSFORD SMITH'S CHANCE.

Notwithstanding the fact that Air-Com-modore Kingsford Smith was delayed at ictoria Point, he has by no means lost his chance of beating Mr. J. A. Mollison's record of 8 days 22 hours 25 minutes for the flight, to England. Both airmen " reached Rangoon on the evening of the third day and both left there on the morning of the fourth day. Mr. Mollison reached Allahabad on the fourth evening and should Mr. Smith have ai rived at Allahabad last evening, he will have equalled his rival's time to that city. Mr. Smith lett Wyndham at 2 a.m. last. Thursday and reached Cheribon, Java, the same evening. He left there at 3.45 a.m. on Friday and at 7.15 p.m. was forced down south of Victoria Point. He flew on to "Victoria Point on Saturdav, arriving at 7..15 a.m. and leaving again at 11.30 a.m. for Rangoon, which he reached at 5.55 p.m. Yesterday he resumed his flight at 4.15 a.m. Mollison's Journey Described. Mr. Mollison left Wyndham about 1 a.m. on July 29. That afternoon he landed at Sonrabava, and after a short rest took off for Batavia, which he reached in the twilight; of that evening. He had some difficulty in finding the aercdromo and landed without accident in a dry rice field. Friends having intimated his location, Mr Mollison inspected his machine, and, finding everything in order, decided to proceed to Batavia, a distance of 15 miles, in the darkness. He landed safely on the aerodrome with the aid of the lights of motor-cars and a gasoline torch. The next day tho airman landed at Singapore. After refuelling he left for Alor Star, Federated Malay States, about 380 miles north cf Singapore, where he had a few hours' rest. On the third day, when leaving Alor Star, he expressed tho hope that he would bo able to make Akyab in a non-stop run. He did not achieve his objective, but came down near Rangoon, where he mistook the racecourse for tho aerodrome. Later that day he :3ew to the Mingaddon aerodrome. After attending to his engine and refuelling he had a short rest. The next day (the fourth) the flier made a short call at Calcutta and at 12.30 p.m. left there for Allahabad, which he reached the same evening. On the "following dayhe reached Karachi. Final Stages of the Flight. During the sixth day he stopped for a short time at Bundar Abbas, and proceeded to Basra, which he reached that evening. He had only a few hours' sleep and took off shortly after midnight, stating that he proposed to reach Athens that night. As he was retarded by headwinds, the airman was only able to reach Aleppo on the seventh day. Snatching a few hours' rest, as he was feeling very tired, Mr. Mollison left shortly after midnight for a night flight across the Mediterranean for Athens, which he reached at 3.30 on the morning of the eighth day after leaving Wyndham. A little later he left for Rome, which he reached tha: evening; and left again about 1 a.m. on the ninth day for London. He made a forced lauding at Pevensey (Sussex) and finally reached C'roydou at 4.31 p.m. | Rival Flights Compared. j The following table shows the progress of Mr. Smith's flight to date compared with that o;. : Mr. Mollison:— MOLLISON. SMITH. First Day Batavia. C heribon. Java. Second Day Singapore. Forced down south of Victoria Point. Third Duy Rangoon. Victoria Point and on to Kansroon. Fourth Day Calcutta and Calcutta, left Allahabad. for Allahabad. Fifth Day Karachi. Sixth Day Basra. Seventh Day Aleppo. Eighth Day Rome. Ninth Day Croydon.