AEROPLANE FLIGHT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11252, 3 July 1922, Page 7

AEROPLANE FLIGHT

AUSTRALIA TO DOMINION ATTEMPT TO BE AIADE BY CAPTAIN HEAT. SOFWITH MACHINE CHOSEN. FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. ASHBURTON, July 1. An attempt to fly over the Tasman Sea from a point iu the south-eastern cornea' of New South Wales to Christchurch is to be made by Captain G. H. Iveat, D.F.C., in the autumn of next year. The attempt is to bo made in a Sopwith machine. Captain Keat will have associated with him as navigator Captain Bruce Ross, another expilot of the Royal Air Force, who will be remembered as partner with Major Blake, who is at present on a world flight, in one of his earlier ventures. The season for the flight, iu February or March next, has been carefully chosen on tho reports of the meteorologists as the mosit suitable for crossing the Tasman Sea. The air currents have been more favourable and squalls are less likely to be encountered at this period of the year, while the prevalent. north-west wind is generally quiescent in the autumn. A PREVIOUS OFFER.

Captain Keat previously offered his services to the New Zealand Government for a flight from New Zealand to Australia, but the Pbstmaster-Gen-eral (the Hon. J. G. Coates) declined the offer and promised to keep the pilot’s application in view when an opportunity occurred. Recently Captain Keat has been in communication with the Sojjwitih Company and Vickers Ltd., of England, with a view to arranging the matter. Finally, through Sopwith’s Sydney agency, his offer was acoepted, and ho proceeds to London next month to complete arrangements. These include the selection and shipping of two Sopwith machines to Sydney and thence to the point of departure. TYPE OF MACHINE.

As far as Captain Keat knows at present the machines will be of the type known as the “Sopwith Twin Rotary Bomber,” with a 250 horse-power engine. The ’plane will be after the type used by Sir Ross Smith on his England to Australia flight, the only difference being that Captain Keat’s engines will be rotary while Sir Ross Smith’s were stationary. Captain Keat estimates -the distance of the flight from point to point at 1500 to 1600 miles, against which test the engines should easily he proof. The chief problem, that of petrol supply, has also been satisfactorily solved. In answer to a question, Captain Keat said that provision for a forced sea landing had yet to he considered. A DISTINGUISHED RECORD.

Captain Keat, who is 28 years of age, has a distinguished record of war service, both in the infantry and flying services. He was born in Melbourne, came to the Dominion when 12 years of age, and has since resided at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Enlisting as a private from the latter centre in 1914 he left New Zealand with the Main Body, and when in active operations was early distinguished for gallantry. He was mentioned in dispatches and marked far promotion on the field to commissioned rank. This recognition he would not aeoept unless he obtained a transfer to the flying servioe. When this was finally granted he received his flying training in England at the Northolt School and after five weeks’ training wa« drafted out as a fully qualified pilot. Having earned the much-coveted “Brevey” (wings) he was first engaged in home defenoe over London against Zeppe/lins.