AIR RACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21934, 18 October 1934, Page 11

AIR RACE

SATURDAY'S START ENTRANTS ASSEMBLE I '• PROMINENT PILOTS INTENSIVE ACTIVITY SCENE AT MILDENHALL • • • By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON. Oct. 16 The Australian Press Association's representative at Mildenha.tl aerodrome, Suffolk, the starting point for the Melbourne Centenary air race, reports that the locality was swept by a gale to-day. AH test flights were postponed. The aerodrome is becoming a scene of more intensive preparations. Tho first American high-speed machine to arrive was Colonel Roscoe Turner's magnificent all-metal Boeing transport machine. It was followed by Colonel J. C. Fitzmaurice's Irish Swoop. Miss J. Cochran (United States), attired in a tweed lounge suit, arrived in semi-darkness piloted by Mr. Wesley Smith. An Aucklander, Mr. F. Stewart, a wireless operator, will be the third member of •.the erew of the Rapide Dragon, the Auckland nomination. Splendid Contest Assured Both the Dutch entrants, the K.L.M. Douglas air liner and the Dutch syndicate's Pander-jager, also arrived at ilildenhall to-day. "With hopes of two further arrivals to-morrow the presence of 20 competi- / tors at the starting post assures a splendid race. There have been so many last-minute disappointments that it is particularly gratifying to find among to-day's arrivals such strong candidates as Colonel Roscoe Turner, D. L. Astes, Colonel Fitzmaurice and Miss J. Cochran. Apparently the Frenchmen are making every Effort to compete, for, after delay owing to gales, M. Molinier asked for a further extension, which undoubtedly will be granted. Invalid Flies Through Gale Engine trouble, which yesterday caused a' forced landing, obliged the withdrawal of Lord Nuffield's Airspeed Envoy. Earlier to-day the Geysendorfer machine was flown from Amsterdam to Croydon in 70 minutes. ' Mr. R. Parer, who practically stepped out of hospital into his aeroplane, arrived at Mildenhall after an adventurous trip, reporting a 60-mile-an-hour gale. He had been in the tropical diseases hospital in London for two days for inoculations against a recurrence of malaria. He was looking far from well but determined to start in the race.