GREAT FEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21938, 23 October 1934, Page 9

GREAT FEAT

RECORDS SMASHED SCOTT IN AUSTRALIA LITTLE OVER TWO DATS FINAL STAGE AHEAD TRIP TO MELBOURNE By Telegraph—Press i.fociation— Copyright (Received October 2*2, 10.45 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Oct. 22 A message from Darwin states that the first off the air race competitors to reach Australia, Messrs. C. W. A. Seotfc and T. Campbell Black, landed there at 9,8 p.m. eastern standard time. This means that they flew from Jlildenhall, Suffolk, England, in hours. They, had passed over Timor Island about 3 p.m. eastern standard time. , Information is filtering through to the Air Rice Committee in regard to the progress of the competitors. It is /expected that Messrs. Scott and Black •will reach Melbourne to-morrow. The weather at Darwin is much improved and risibility now is good. No further rain has fallen.

LEADING PILOTS

ENTRANT'S CONFIDENCE " GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING The opinion that Messrs. Scott, and Black had a good chance of winning was expressed by the entrant of their de Havilland Comet, Mr. A. 0. Edwards, when he passed through Auckland at the beginning of this month, on his way to Melbourne to see the finish ot the race. Mr. Edwards is managing director of the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. Mr. Edwards said he had every confidence in the ability of the men who , were to fly his entry. Convinced that the race would resolve itself into a test of endurance as well as of navigation and flying skill, they- had decided to fly the machine in shifts of four hours each during the day, with shorter periods during; the night. It was their belief that tho flight would occupy less than four days. Mr. C. W. A. Scott entered the Royal Air Force in 1922, and transferred to the Reserve four years later. In 1927 he joined Qantas, and was instructor to the Brisbane Aero Club from 1929 to 1931. In April and June that year he made record solo flights from England to Australia and back, while the following year he set a fresh record for the England-Australia journey by air. Mr. T. Campbell Black is another well-known British long-distance flier,and served in the war with the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force. In 1929 he flew from Nairobi to London, 5000 miles, in eight days, and in 1931 he completed a 1600-mile flight in East Africa, linking up the tour capitals of British dependencies, in one day. Altogether, he has flown 13 times between England and Nairobi, and jfe acted as pilot for the Prince of Wales during his big game expedition to ' Africa. MISSING BOMBER FOUND IN JUNGLE OCCUPANTS NOT INJURED (Received October 22, 11.25 p.m.) SINGAPORE. Qct. 22 The missing Royal Air Force bomber V trhich left for Alor Star yesterday in connection// with the air race was located to-day near Kulang, Johore. pi All the occupants were safe and uninjured, but the machine was badly damaged by a forced landing. The pilot was ||h Flying-Officer J. F. Hobler. K, The search was carried out by 1000 ||i ; natives in a vast area of almost impenetrable jungle infested by tigers. WORLD-WIDE INTEREST fi Progress keenly followed p®-,-*..' ; (Received October 22, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 22 The world-wide interest in the Centenarv air race is enormous. The progress'of the various competitors is being p followed wit'h the keenest enthusiasm > on all continents.