MORE PROGRESS

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

MORE PROGRESS

NEW ZEALAND CREW ARRIVAL AT BAGDAD NEXT STOP ALLAHABAD WILL FLY THE TASMAN By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 22, 11.55 p.m.) BAGDAD, Oct. 22 The New Zealanders, SquadronLeader J. D. Hewett and Flying-Officer Cyril Kay, co-pilots of the D.H. Dragon, with a passenger, Mr. F. Stewart, arrived at Athens yesterday. In an interview, Mr. Hewett said they had had a head wind from Rome. "We shall fly the Tasman hack to New Zealand after our arrival at Melbourne," he added. The airmen left for Bagdad after refuelling and arrived here this morning. They left an hour later for Allahabad.

FROM WEEKS TO HOURS FIFTEEN YEARS OF PROGRESS HISTORY OF FORMER FLIGHTS Whereas the time allowed for the flight to Australia in the first competition was a matter of almost weeks, to-day successful aviators are expected to accomplish the journey in a time that may be reckoned in hours. The history of successful flights between England and the Commonwealth commenced in November, 1919, when Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith completed the journey of 11,295 miles in 124 flying hours. By "this epoch-making feat, the Smith brothers won the £IO,OOO prize offered by the Commonwealth Government for the first flight from London to Australia within 720 hours, beating five other competitors. In the following year Lieutenant R. J. Parer and J. C. Mcintosh accomplished the flight. Nine years elapsed before another successful attempt was made, the pilots being Flight-Lieutenant S. J. Moir and Flying-Officer H. Owen. Shortly afterward, the time, which had previously been a matter of weeki, was reduced to 12 days 12£ hours by Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and his crew in the Southern Cross, in a flight to England. In 1930, Flying-Officers Piper and Kay accomplished the outward journey. Other'flights outside the solo class have been made, the outstanding' one being that of Mr. C. T. P. Ulm last year. Having flown to England earlier in the year, Ulm and his crew made the return trip in 6 days 17 hours 47 minutes, which to date stands as the The outstanding solo flights from England to Australia have been as follows: — Date Pilot Days Hrs. Min. 1928 Bert Hinkler . . 15 12 1930 Amy Johnson . . 19 1930 Kingsford Smith 10 2 10 1930 Oscar Garden . . 19 1931 C. W. Scott . . 9 4 11 1931 C. A. Butler . . 9 2 21 1932 C. W. Scott . . 8 20 34 1933 Kingsford Smith 7 4 49 1934 Jean Batten . . 14 12 Two notable flights have been made; from Australia to England. These were ; by Mr. C. W. Scott in May and June, j 1931, the time being 10 days 21 hours, | and by Mr. J. A. Mollison, two months j later, his time being 8 days 22 hburs 5 j minutes.