RACE FOR FLIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21935, 19 October 1934, Page 11

RACE FOR FLIERS

PILOTS AGGRIEVED MACHINES TOO HEAVY STRICTNESS OF REGULATIONS FLYING RANGE REDUCED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON'. Oct. 17 The Australian Press Association's representative at Mildenhall. the starting point for the Centenary air race to Melbourne, reports that the gale has subsided and has been replaced by a steady rain with bad visibility, offering little opportunity for trial flights. Competitors to-dav were busy adjusting their machines, for several were found to be over the permissible weight. Colonel Roscoe Turner's aeroplane was several hundred pounds overweight owing to a change from the petrol with which it was originally weighed. The airman said he would probably have to seal three petrol tanks empty in order to conform to the regulations. The Daily Mail says Colonel Turner states that if he is required to further reduce his petrol supply he will fly as a non-competitor and "show everyone how the course could be flown." Apparently, through a variation in the calculations of the constructors, Captain Neville Stack's machine, as the result of the official test, was found so pronouncedly overweight that the airman's range of flight is understood to be reduced from 1500 to 1000 miles. Mr. C. J. Melrose, the Melbourne airman, also had the same fault with his Gipsy Moth. Consequently a number of the competitors cannot accurately state the range of their machines, pending the reduction of weight in compliance with the official instructions. Colonel Turner will carry a rubber raft, which it is claimed can be inflated in 50 seconds. It would carry the three members of his crew. Mr and Mrs. J. A. Mollison and Colonel J. A. Fitzmaurice declare that the regulations will defeat their own object by decreasing the range of flight. •Sir. Mollison said that a machine may be forced down in the middle of the Bav of Bengal because of the over-strict regulations having prevented the carrying of a full load of petrol. The regulations also compelled the pilots to carry emergency and safety equipment, which would further reduce the range. Mr. J. Woods, Australian pilot, in spite of a drastic reduction in his tankage, is still 801b. overweight, and as his range is already below 1000 miles, he will have little hope in the speed race.

FRENCHMEN RETIRE aeroplane damaged ACCIDENT AT LE BOURGET .PABIS, Oct. 17 The Bleriot aeroplane entered for the Centenary air race by MM. Molinier and Chalie passed the official tests, during which M. Challe, the pilot, achieved a speed of 190 miles an hour. Later, however, in landing at Le Bourget, en route to Mildenhall, the undercarriage was broken and the machine was immediately scratched ffom the race.

GLOOMY OUTLOOK CONDITIONS IN MALAYA RAIN AFFECTS AERODROMES SINGAPORE, Oct. 17 The aerodrome at Alor Star, a checking point in the Centenary air race, is still in a very bad condition. Heavy rains are falling throughout Malaya. Rangoon and Bangkok, also checking points, had heavy rains, and cyclones are feared in the Bay of Bengal. Alor Star and Penang are not expected to be safe by the end of the week, even if the weather abates.