GREAT AIR RACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 9 (Supplement)

GREAT AIR RACE

MILDENHALL TO MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLYING CONTEST (TEST FOR CRAFT AND PILOTS From Mildenhall aerodrome, Suffolk, the pick of the world's civil aircraft, piloted by international " aces," will take off to-jiay to begin, a contest that will not conclude until the winning machines have crossed a line drawn through the centre of the racecourse at Flemington, Melbourne, some 12,000 miles away. The two sections, the speed dash and the handicap event, comprise the greatest international contest' ever conceived, and the magnitude of the undertaking, viewed even in the light of presentday aerial transport, is stupendous. It is a struggle between picked men in the finest craft that designers and engineers from leading countries can produce. The race has a truly international savour, and the winner, to whatever country he may belong, will merit the unstinted praise and admiration of the civilised world. The past has seen many great international contests in almost everv field of sport, but there has been none to compare with the event to start to-day. The Macßobertson International Air Race is bringing into friendly but none the less keen rivalry men who are held, in their own countries, as almost supreme in the air.

IT is to an Australian, Sir Macpherson Robertson, that the world owes the inspiration of the contest, and his generosity and patriotism have made possible the fulfilment of an ambitious scheme. Prize-money totalling £15,000, and a gold cup valued at not less than £SOO, have been donated by Sir Macpherson, whose gift has been described in Australia as the best newß received by civil aviation since the / Commonwealth Government gave a prize for a pioneering flight from England to Australia, which was won by Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith. One of the most Temarkable figures in 'Australian commerce, Sir Macpherson, who has made a vast fortune from the manufacture of confectionery, is widely known as a philanthropist. His publio benefactions/ in recent years have totalled over £IOO,OOO, and on many occasions he has made huge public gifts, principally in Christmas charity. None of his many previous gifts, however, has attracted such world-wide attention, or opened up sucK vast possibilities, as his donation of prize-money for the greatest race in the history of • aviation. Likely Benefits The whole flying world is likely to benefit, either directly or indirectly, as a resuit of the England-Australia air race. To, Australia in particular, and also to New Zealand to a large degree, the race is of outstanding importance, not merely because the two countries arei both ably represented in the contests, but on account of the more rapid communication with the Mother Country that will almost inevitably result. Flying between England and Australia, although no new thing, is still in its infancy, and the stimulus expected from the great air race should assist materially in the establishment of regular and rapid air services. Plans for an England-Australia air-mail service have already been announced, and those responsible for the organisation will learn much from the experiences of competitors in the events that commence to-day. It has been emphasised from the outset that the race is to be neither experimental nor " freakish." For that reason, the 3trict standards of airworthiness set by the International Convention. of Air Navigation were adopted as the minimum requirements for competing aircraft. The regulations have been framed with a view to enabling the performance of the winning machines to be approached within a few years by the standard craft in regular use between England and Australia. A wise course has been followed by the promoters of the events in doing all in their power to exclude overloaded machines, and in this, by enforcing strictly the - Very definite requirements of the 1.C.A.N., they would appear to have been successful. Precautions lor Safety / With the eyes of the world upon the race, a series of crashes would have a disastrous effect upon the progress of aviation, and since it :is in the interests of commercial flying generally that the race has been sponsored, every precaution to ensure the safety of the competitors has been taken. In any such contests there is an clement of risk, but by reducing this to the absolute minimum, and completing the race

power from start to finish, and the endurance capabilities of the pilots, there are many incalculable'features that may serve either to assist or to retard the progress of the competing machines. Some of the engines specially prepared for the race have endured full-throttle tests for a period equal to considerably more than that which the race is expected to occupy, and the pilots in-

without any more than routine trouble, the safety and practicability of such long-distance flying will be strongly impressed upon the world. Previous flights between England and Australia have been accomplished in a variety of machines by many daring pilots, and there is a rapidly-growing conviction that only by using the highspeed capabilities of modern commercial aircraft to the full can there be brought about the rapid connection that is so greatly to be desired. The general public, however, has yet to be convinced, and competitors in the Robertson race have it in their power to consolidate for all time in the public miijd the realisation that flying is the logical means of safe and rapid transport between the United Kingdom and outposts of Empire. In addition to the two principal limitfog factors, the ability of straining engines to maintain their full output of

elude men who seem almost insensible to fatigue, as their past performances indicate. Aspects which, may seem of only secondary importance will have tremendous Effect, on the results, as by no means all the difficulties will be encountered in the actual contest itself. Preparation and minute attention to detail are absolutely essential in such an event as the Macltobertson race. Practice in every manoeuvre that will conceivably require to be executed, cut-and-dried arrangements for ample supplies of fuel and oil wherever they are likely to be necessary and knowledge of the course and the landing-points, all of which come under the general heading of preparation, are likely to prove determining factors.

The uncertainty that surrounds the results of the contest, even in the publio mind, is contributed to by the prospect of mixed! weather, the size and condition of tllte aerodromes, the great variety oi: competing craft and the' diverse experience of the pilots. On the route there may be expected every kind of weather from the fogs of Europe to the sandstorms and monsoons of the East. While the control aerodromes are adequate in size, the faster machines with fairly high landing-speeds may have some trouble in getting down safely at Allahabad, which measures only 1000 yards by 800 yards and has telegraph poles to the north, a native village on the east and trees dotted about on the other sides. The worst weather may be expected on the,two middle stages, while on the last two tired pilots and navigators will need to summon all their endurance to prevent becoming lost in the trackless deserts of Australia. In spite of all the difficulties to be faced and the seeming impossibility of competitors remaining in close company in such a long event and exposed to so many hazards,- thß opinion is strong that only a few hours will. separate the first and second machines at Flemington.

Great preparations have been made to welcome the competitors at Melbourne, where it is anticipated: that the arrival of the speed contest winner, if in daylight, will be watched by 100,000 people. The finiishing-post at Flemington will be the eastern half of" the southern boundary of the straight, and by day the ends of the line will be marked by ground-utrips 80ft. long and laid at right-angles to the line. The distance between the ground strips, 1000 yards, will be covered by "Flemington," printed in 40ft. letters. By night electric beacons will mark the eastern and western ends of the line, which will be outlined by blue lights. The letter F, in electric tubing, will be placed at the approximate centre.