GREAT AIR RACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21921, 3 October 1934, Page 15

GREAT AIR RACE

AUSTRALIAN SECTION PREPARATIONS FOR FLIGHTS POSSIBLE CONTINUATION CROSSING OF THE TAS.YIAN [by TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, Tuesday After leaving Wellington last year to take up a position in Melbourne associated with the planning of the Centenary air race, Mr. B. Sheil is now making a brief visit to New Zealand as representative of Mr. C. T. P. Ulm. He gave new and interesting details of the race plans as drawn by the Australian officials who will control the Australian section of the route. Koepang to Melbourne. Mr. Sheil made one point of particular interest. This was that, although there is no certainty about it, there is quite a good possibility of some of the racing machines coming on to New Zealand, and with that in mind, special aviation spirit had been supplied at Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington and Christchurch. Basis ol Control The broad basis of control, said Mr. Sheil, was that the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain should supervise the race as far as Koepang, Dutch East Indies, and that the Australian Aero Club should control the remaining section to Melbourne. Even for that much shorter section of the race a tremendous amount of organisation work had to be done. The system of signals and communication in the Australian section was as perfect as planning could make it. Land line facilities were being specially added to and adapted, and where there "are gaps in land lines, service is being made continuous by wireless from tenders operated by the personnel of the Australian Air Force in direct touch with a control point at the Melbourne Town Hall, where a highly-qualified staff will work round the clock tying together messages by cable, land line and wireless. Extension of Aerodrome At Darwin work was going on day and night in the extension of the aerodrome to fit,it to accommodate machines of any size. This extension would have been carried out in any ease in view of the new m&il service, said Mr. Sheil, but it was being pushed ahead in preparation for the race. Night lighting of the aerodromes at Darwin and right through to Melbourne was an important feature of the general plans. What had been done on the EnglandKoepang section with regard to the refuelling of machines, Mr. Sheil said he did not know, except in a general way, but presumably the plans were very complete. They certainly were on the Australian section, and had been worked out to save not minutes, but seconds. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's- machine, for instance, had eight fuel tanks, and plans had been made for the simultaneous refilling of them. Sir Charles had even had distributed along the route sets of special tools to uncap his fuel-tanks to save more seconds. Drawback of Finance The opinion of those closely associated with the race in Australia was that there would, still be a good many withdrawals, for only now were the troubles, largely financial, of many competitors being made known. Although the prizemoney was large, £IO,OOO, iu Australian currency it had to be remembered that the exchange woidd slice away a big part of .that for a British, American or Continental victory, reducing it to about £7500. Considering that the machine likely to win would cost, with, organisation, fuel and the thousand other expenses. added, at least £7OOO, there would not be much ready money over. However, as everyone recognised, there was much more than prize-money to be gained. THE PROBABLE STARTERS EIGHT AMERICAN PILOTS ESTIMATES OF EXPENSE LONDON. Sept.. 27 It is expected that there will be 35 starters, including eight Americans, in the Centenary air race. Although Mr. Wiley Po.st announced that damage to the Winnie ilae would prevent him taking part in the race, a report from New York states that he intends to start. Colonel Fitzinaurice has cabled that he is very satisfied with his Bellanca's first flights, and that he and his copilot. E. W. Bonar, will leave for England with the aeroplane on September 29 The failure of Sir Alan Cobham s flight precludes the contemplated attempt at fuelling in the air during the race, and consequently Lady Cobham probably will withdraw her entry. Captain Stack, flying an AirspeedCourier, will have as co-pilot Flightlieutenant D. F. Anderson, a test pilot of Martlesham. Owing to exaggerated estimates of competitors'/expenses, fuel companies have issued a statement that petrol Mill cost 2s lOd to 3s, and oil 9s to 10< u gallon, making £IOO a generous estimate of the average cost of fuel and oil. In addition, insurance will represent/ 15 per cent of the value of the aeroplane, amounting in the case of an £BOOO machine to £I2OO. Airmen point out that it must be assumed that a competitor is fully equipped to be able to use his machine after the race, and therefore criticism that the prize of £BOOO in English money is too small is not. justified. Moreover, the benefits accruing through the stimulation fco aviation cpnnot be reckoned, while better and permanent organisation along the route will result BAN ON OVERLOADING STRICT EXAMINATION / LONDON, Sept. 27 The need for the strictest observance | of the prohibition against overloading in the Centenary air race is emphasised in the Royal Aero Club's latest regulations, says the aeronautical correspondent of the Times. The examinations si* days before th*' race will include an all-up" weighing test with full tanks and the load as for the rate. Competitors exceeding the. weight will be given, permissible certificates of airworthiness' and will be required to make the necessary adjustments, for which means for limiting and sealing the tanks must lie provided. / Mr. C. J. /Melrose, the Adelaide airman, who made an unofficial record flight from Australia to England, declares that C. W. A. Scott flight to j win the race. Sir Charles B-ingsfoid Smith, he thinks, has no chance. ;