AIR RACE PILOTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21937, 22 October 1934, Page 12

AIR RACE PILOTS

PERFORMANCES COMPARED SELECTING BEST ROUTE HAZARDS OF THE COURSE BRITISH AND DUTCH FLIERS '"The performance of the Mollisons in reaching Bagdad uon-stop and averaging over 200 miles an hour is most creditable and indicates that the special machines built by the do Haviland factory for the race will bo up to expectations,", a prominent Auckland pilot said last evening. "It would appear that Mr. and Mrs. Mollison were the only entrants to follow tho Great Circle course, and it is probably this that gave them the lead of 111 50m at Bagdad from C. W. A. Scott, who is also flying a D.H. Comet, and is now ahead." "It is possible that bad weather on the more northerly Great Circle course forced other competitors to follow the route offering better flying conditions and more aerodro^s. "Tho two Dutch competitors, K. D. Parmentia, with a crew of three, and three passengers, flying a Douglas, and D. L. Astes, Geysendorfer and Prone, flying a Pander Mail, arc proving fast and reliable. Both these machines landed twice for fuel between Mildenhall and Bagdad. These two craft are sure to give a very good account of themselves. Tho pilots are now on a route which they know thoroughly. Tho Pander Mail recently made a record flight from Holland to Batavia and back, averaging 200 miles an hour. Colonel IJoscoe Turner, flying a Boeing; Transport, with C. Pangborn and Miss Nichols, is also well up. This team had to reduce its fuel supply which forced it to follow the longer route and refuel at Athens. Pupil From Kohimarama "J. Woods and Bennett, flying a Lockheed Vega, started well, but have been unfortunate. It is of interest that J. Woods was a pupil of tho "Walsh Brothers' Flying School at Kohimarama. "The two New Zealand entries are maintaining good progress. SquadronLeader Hewett, with C. E. Kay and F. Stewart, flying a D.H. Dragon, had bad luck to start with, and were forced down with engine trouble at Boulogne, The trouble could not have been serious and must have been quickly remedied, as tlley 'were reported as arriving at Pome at 2.6 p.m. on Saturday. This gives him a speed of 132 miles an hour, including any stops. Their further progress has, not been reported officially, but if they maintained this average speed their time of arrival at Bagdad would be 5 a.m. Sunday. The top speed of the D.H. Dragon is 165 miles an hour. '' "Squadron-Leader McGregor and H. C. Walker, flying a Miles Hawk, reached Ilome at 10.35 p.m. on Saturday, having called at Marseilles. This gives S.quadron-Leader McGregor an average speed of 114 miles an hour, including all stops. In comparison with the other machines in the race, the position of these craft is very satisfactory. Good Time to Home "C. J. Melrose, flying a Puss Moth, and Hansen fnd Jensen flying a Desouter, made good time to Rome. H. L. Brook, with Miss Lay as passenger, flying a Miles Hawke, was forced to land at Istres, near Marseilles, and Flight-Lieu-tenant G. Shaw, with a Klenim Eagle, landed in Spain, and was delayed in obtaining permission to leave the country. Other machines which failed to perform up to expectations were the Airspeed Courier, flown by D. E. and K. G. Stodart; the two Fairey Foxes, flown by R. Parer and H. D. Gilman, both of which have developed engine trouble. . ' 'The performance of the Airspeed Vleeroy, the scratch machine in the Handicap, flown by Captain T. Neville Stack, is very disappointing. He was reported down at Abbeville, owing to weather and later to have reached Pariß and to be waiting. Captain Stack is a pilot of much experience and great ability, and it must be some serious trouble that is delaying him. It appears that Brook, Shaw, the Stodarts, Parer and Gilman cannot make up the distance they lost on the first day of the race. Miss Cochran, flying a Granville, had troublo in taking off and it was thought that the undercarriage had probably been damaged. Damage was caused in landing at Bucharest, and the machine has been withdrawn from the race." Speeds Indicated Another well-known Auckland airman said that from the results so far to hand there was no indication of any of the aircraft exceeding their owner's or the inanufacturers' expectations of their speed capabilities. Possibly adverse weather was met with on all routes in Europe and the Air Ministry's forecast of following winds had added nothing to the estimated speed for the distances covered to date. The Mollisons' "Comet" averaged 201 miles an hour to Bagdad, which is 34 miles an hour below its .top speed. The D.H. "Rapide" flown by Hewett and Kay, averaged 132 miles an hour to Rome, which is 35 miles an hour below its stop speed. Roscoe Turner in the Boeing is 70 below his claimed top speed. Parmentier in the Douglas is averaging 150 miles an hour, or over 50 below what is expected of him. Astes in the Pander has averaged 144 miles an hour, so he too is considerably below his top speed.