AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20334, 16 February 1928, Page 9

AVIATION

MR BERT HINKLER’S FLIGHT. FAST TIME TO INDIA. (British Official Wireless.) (Pres* Association —By Telegraph Copyright > RUGBY, February 14. Mr Bert Hinkler arrived to-day at Karachi, India, on his Might to Australia in an “ Avian ” light aeroplane. To have flown from England to India in seven- days undoubtedly ranks as me of the finest feats of aviation yet performed. The flight opens up entirely new possibilities, as most of the big transcontinental flights have been accomplished by special high-powered machines. Mr Hinkler’s machine is exactly the same as the machine used Dy many private owners and flying clubs. The journey to India by air in such a machine proves to be the cheapest way of getting there, for the running costs of the machine, including petrol, oil and housing, are stated not to have exceeded £2O. Captain Hinkler hopes to reach Australia in 18 days. - HUSTLING HINKLER.” PRESS INTEREST AWAKENED. LONDON, February 14. (Received Feb. 15, nt 5.5 p.m.) “ Hustling Hinkler ” is a press headline in the sudden awakening of interest in the Australia’s remarkable recordbreaking journey to Karachi in just over a week. It is generally acclaimed one of the finest feats of aviatym, and the designers of the -giuc say that the fuel and incidentals could not have cost more than £25, probably the cheapest journey ever made to India. The last thing Mr Hinkler thinks of is himself. He never has a hamper —just a cake of chocolate, a couple of sandwiches, and a thermos flask containing eotfee. An intimate friend hoped that Mr Hinkler would not over-exert himself and get drowsy in the air, but recalled that he was once tempted to take up a new machim 20.000 ft without a respirator, and felt himself becoming insensible, but instinctively brought the machine clown safely.—A. and N.Z. Cable. A COMMERCIAL FLYING BOAT. SERVICE IN THE TROPICS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 14. Received Feb. 15, at 5.5 p.m.) The first British commercial flying boat specially designed for service in the tropics has been launched at Short Brothel's’ seaplane works, Rochester. It has luxurious accommodation for 15 passengers. and is driven hy three 485 horsepower Bristol-Jupiter air-cooled engines. The seaplane, when fully loaded, weighs over nine tons, and has a speed of 120 miles hourly and a range of 740 miles. FLIGHT OVER NORTH POLE. A THIRD ATTEMPT. NEW YORK, February 14. A message from Seattle states that Captain Wilkins has begun his third attempt to fly over the Arctic Ocean and the North Pole. He is proceeding to Alaska aboard the steamship Yukon, accompanied by Pilot Eilsen, with a ’plane, equipment, and supplies for a six months ex pedition. Before his departure Captain Wilkins said that he would attempt a 2100 miles flight from Point Barrow across the Pole to Spitsbergen thU p .ing.—A. and N.Z. Cable. COLONEL LINDBERGH. PREPARED TO BE A PIONEER. NEW YORK, February 14. (Received Fob. 15, at 10 p.rtl.) On hearing at St. Louis that the Secretary for War (Mr D. F. Davis) intended to ask him to forgo future experimental flights and confine bis aerial activity to ordinary flying, Colonel Lindbergh said: “There ’must be pioneers, and some of them arc killed. If it happens that I am killed doing those things I am willing to make this sacrifice.” —A. and N.Z. Cable,