RECORD SOUGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22975, 1 March 1938, Page 11

RECORD SOUGHT

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA MR. BROADBENT'S PLANS NEXT MONTH'S ATTEMPT SPECIAL MACHINE SECUEED LONDON, Feb. 21 It is announced that Mr. H. F. Broadbent is completing preparations for a new eittack on the solo flight record from Lympne to Darr win, and also for the official world solo record from Lympne to Sydney. The airman's attempt will be made under the auspices of the Federation Internationale Aeronautique, which demands a speed equal to at least 100 kilometres an hour for tho elapsed time between the departure and arrival over tho shortest possible route, which, for obvious reasons, will not be the route taken. Mr. Broadbent may lower the light aeroplane record between England and Australia of five days 15 hours, made by McGregor and Walker in the Melbourne Centenary air race. He has purchased a Percival Vega Gull specially

for the attempt. The machine is now being completed at Luton. The engine is a Gipsy six, second series, with a.controllable pitch propeller, built by De Havilland, and the construction is wholly British. The aeroplane will carry 204 gallons of petrol—94 in the -wings and 110 in the cabin —and will cruise at 130 to 135 miles an hour with full tanks, but at 150 miles an hour when fitted as a normal four-seater. These speeds correspond with the speeds of Miss Jean Batten's machine, in which she broke the record. Mr. Broadbent, to- harmonise the attempt with the 150 th anniversary celebrations, has christened the machine ; Sirius. The four-seater cabin is almost filled by the tanks, leaving one narrow seat. The machine is fitted witfr. a special parachute door and equipment, landing lights, navigation lights, blind-flying instruments, and a special compass. Mr. Broadbent explains that an compass grows very small to the eye during a long flight. The best time for the flight would be in April, when there will be a full moon, but Mr. Broadbent is trying to arrange to start on March 15, leaving Lympne aerodrome at 3 a.m., and keeping to the following itinerary:— Arrive Athens, 5 p.m.; leave Athens second day, 3 a.m.; arrive Basra, 5 p.m.; leave 7 p.m.; arrive Allahabad third day, 1 a.m.; depart 9 p.m.; arrive Alor Star fourth day, 4 p.m.; depart fifth day, 3 a.m.; arrive Rambang 5 p.m.; depart '9 p.m.; arrive Darwin sixth day, 6 a.m.