SIR ROSS SMITH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18465, 28 January 1922, Page 9

SIR ROSS SMITH

ROUND THE WORLD BY AIR FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETED Press Association—By Tdograph—Copyright. LONDON, January 26. (Received Jan. 27, at 5.6 p.m.) Sir Ross Smith has completed the arrangements for his world flight. He has reluctantly abandoned his first idea, which was to race in an aeroplane against a disused airship which he hoped to borrow from the Air Ministry and man yrith a volunteer crew which is still obtainable. Sir Boss Smith proposed to have six weeks* start of the airship* by which time ho would, with luck, have reached Japan, going by way of India, The airship, would then have followed to Japan by way of Russia, and while the airship made for San Francisco direct Sir Ross Rs4’s route, while the aeroplane went via Alaska. The airship would them follow R34’s route, while the aeroplane went vit the Azores. The Air Ministry, however, was not sympathetic and refused to allow any airship to fly pending a decision whether it would be required for Imperial service. However, if the sum,of £30,000 can bo collected it will still be possible to build a steel airship able to give Sir Ross Smith a race.—A, and N.Z. Cable.