MODERN AIRCRAFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23090, 15 July 1938, Page 11

MODERN AIRCRAFT

ABILITY DEMONSTRATED OPINION OJF MR. H. GATTY PILOT'S FINE REPUTATION ' [BY TELEGRAPk —SPECTAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON", Thursday "This flight is a very good demonstration of what can be done with modern aircraft and engines when they are handled by 'competent crews," said Mr. Harold Gatty, representative in New Zealand of Pan American Airways. in an interview last night, when referring to Mr. Howard Hughes' world flight. Mr. Gatty achieved prominence in 1931 when he accompanied the lato Mr. Wiley Post in a successful flight round the world. As the fliers had reached Alaska and were now on their way to New York, they had overcome the worst part of the journey, and would havo nothing to 'worry thefn over the last stage across America, Mr. Gatty said. One of the most difficult sections of the flight was across the ocean'from Siberia to Alaska, and. he was glad to hear that they had accomplished this safely. Strong winds and changeable weather were likely to to encountered in this region, making flying extremely difficult. On the flight/ from Yakutsk to Fairtanks, Mr. Hughes and his companions had apparently followed a more northand shorter, course than that taken by Wiley' Post and himself, Mr. Gatty added. In the 1931 flight they had travelled near the Manchurian border, but this territory would probably be forbidden to airmen at the present time owing to military operations there.

Compared with two stops which they tad made, Mr. Hughes would probably reach New York without an intermediate landing, ho said. Although he did not know him personally, Mr. Hughes had an excellent reputation as airman, and had several times woken the transcontinental record in the United States, being the present record holder. It was also apparent that he had a very fine crew with him. I'or a variety of reasons, long-dis-ance flights could be much more easily a ccomplished at the present day than Jfhen he and Wiley Post made their tri P around the world, Mr. Gatty ?dcled. The greater range of the machos made fewer stops necessary, and j were consequently fewer chances ot niers striking trouble at landings a «d take-offs. Machines of' to-day provided more ccommodation / than formerly, and rpL^? r orews could therefore be carried, toil t that the machines could bo ~j ec * V relays, and the men could in the air. which was previously t], P° s sible. In his opinion, the dav of as "S-distance solo flight was over, Purpose no l° u £ ,3r served a useful