BLAZING TRAILS IN THE SKY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

BLAZING TRAILS IN THE SKY

Hie "Faith in Australia" By j.f.b. AN Australian aviator who is already the author of an extremely interesting book that tells of a long ocean flight, Captain P. G. Taylor, has now written a second volume, also dealing with an air journey that will long be remembered. In his first book, Captain Taylor described a daring Pacific flight he made with the late &ir Charles Kingsford Smith in the famous Lockheed monoplane "Lady Southern Cross." In his latest work lie gives a detailed account of a return flight from Australia to England and back he made with the late C. T; P. Tim and "Scotly" Alien in another famous monoplane, "Faith In Australia." Original plans were tor a world flight., but a mishap at Portmarnoek, Ireland, compelled llni and his companions to abandon the Atlantic sehemo and ilv back to Australia after the machine had been repaired. A new rncord was established on the return flight. Though in a sense the venture was a failure, for it had been his ambition to gain support for an air service to connect Australia with the Knglandlndia service, 171 m succeeded in focussing attention on tho need for such a service. He was lost not long afterwards when attempting to blaze an air trail across the Pacific. Vivid impressions of the difficulties that beset the record-seeking aviator, are given by Captain Taylor iu his new book. Dust, heat, unwilling engines, storms, and problems of organisation all had to bo overcome, and yet the book is not a mere account of difficulties and hardships. The author displays a genuine appreciation of the beauties of Nature that only the airman sees, and reveals something of a poet's' mind in many of his descriptions.

The book is illustrated with a series of most interesting photographs showing the famous old aeroplane at various stages of her career. It is entitled "VH-UXX," the registration letters of the machine. "VH-UXX." by P. G. Taylor. (Anjrus and Robertson.)