AIR LAURELS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22892, 22 November 1937, Page 9

AIR LAURELS

CAPETOWN-LONDON

.(HOUSTON'S FEAT

RECORDS ACHIEVED

FAST RETURN FLIGHT

ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received November 21, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 20 The New Zealand airman, FlyingOfficer A. E. Clouston, and his companion, Mrs. Betty Ivirby-Green, completed a record return flight from Capetown to-day, landing at Croydon at 3.23 p.m.

A large crowd watched the aeroplane shoot from the mist, circle over Croydon aerodrome four times and make a perfect -landing.

Mr. Clouston's fiancee dashed through the police cordon shouting that she must be the first to welcome him. As he emerged l'rom the aeroplane with some days' growth of beard on his face she embraced him.

The airman said: "I have got here just as 1 said 1 would, but I am a little late for lunch. We faced a 60-mile-an-hour gale on the way home, but managed to battle through successfully. Wo are delighted with our achievements."

Mrs. Kirhv-Grecn, who looked fresh, said: "1 feel fine, but I am glad to he home."

Air Commodore Robertson congratulated the fliers on behalf of the Minister of Air, Viscount Swinton. The flight took 57 hours 22 minutes, the flying time being 42 hours 9 minutes. The total flying time for the round trip was 77 hours 48 minutes. The fliers thus captured the records for the outward, homeward and the return journeys.

The fliers hurried to their car, but it was most difficult to drive away owing to the enthusiastic crowds.

Mr. Clouston said: "The trip was good as far as Cairo, but we had head winds all along the Mediterranean. We saw nothing but the white spume of the sea. The winds caused us to refuel at Marseilles, otherwise we would have made the trip from Cairo in one hop. The aeroplane stood up to it well."

Flying-Officer Clouston's record time on the journey outward to Capetown was 1 day 21 hours 2 minutes, which beat Mrs. Mollison's performance of 3 days 6 hours 25 minutes. The record from Capetown to London was previously held by Mr. H. L. Brook, who flew the journey in 4 days 20 minutes. "My brother's flight to the Cape will enable us to gather a large amount of aeronautical science both from the machine and the route," said llr. F. Clouston. of Napier, brother of FlyingOfficer Clouston, when interviewed concerning his brother's record-breaking flight from London to Capetown. "This was the reason why lie took Mrs. Betty Kirby-Green with liini. She is a person skilled in that direction."

Flying-Officer Clouston was born at Motueka and went to school at Callingwood. At the age of 14 he went to sea, and he followed this calling for some time, until he suffered an illness. Beturning to land, he became engaged in the motor business at Nelson and on the West Coast. He later took up flying at Blenheim, training under SquadronLeader N. E. Chandler as a member of the Marlborough Aero Club.

At the. age of 21 he sailed for Eng>fcnd. where ho was with the Fairev Aviation Company for some months until he joined the Royal Air Force. He is now a secret test pilot to the Air Ministry. He was given time off to participate in the Johannesburg air race and was the -last competitor in that event after C. AV. A. Scott and Giles Guthrie had reached Johannesburg. He made an effort to complete the course witjiin the time limit, but crashed at Gwolo, 130 miles south-west of Salisbury. He was fourth in the Paris to Damascus race. THRILLS AT CAIRO LANDING OF MACHINE LONDON, Nov. 1» Crowds waiting at Cairo aerodrome for the arrival of Flving-o(fieer Clouston's aeroplane had an unexpected thrill when the machine was about to land. Mr. Clouston, who was piloting the craft, opened up the engine and rose, then made a second attempt. The aeroplane bumped four times and again rose up. The next time the pilot made a good landing. The airman explained that lie was dazzled by the dashboard lights and could not see anything. Both lie and his companion were extremely tired. The flight from Khartoum to Cairo was the coldest of the journey to that point. To the Cairo correspondent of the Times the aviators said that they were confident of being in London for luncheon to-morrow.