ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21308, 13 April 1931, Page 7

ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA

SCOTT’S SUCCESS MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATION (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) CANBERRA, April 11. Mr Scullin sent his congratulations to Scott, adding: “We feel proud of the fact that the coveted honour has fallen to the lot of another Australian. Your notable achievement once again demonstrates the skill and intrepidity of the Australian airmen.” LONDON, April 10. Mr MacDonald telegraphed from Lossiemouth :. “ I am delighted at Scott’s arrivah I congratulate him on a wonderful achievement.” Sir Malcolm Campbell says: “ Well done, Scott. Awfully fine show. Your enterprise and determination deserved success.”

AVIATOR ENTERTAINED. SHORT ACCOUNT OF TRIP. DARWIN, April 11. Scott declined to grant an interview. He was entertained at dinner by local business people, at which his toast was “ Squadron-leader Hinkler, the man who made the first record.” The airman said he had had a nice trip, save for a bad crossing in the Java Valley and Sumbawa. He was glad to have beaten the record. He would rot try breaking it again for a million pounds. FLIGHT CONTINUED. THE AVIATOR INTERVIEWED. SOME EXPERIENCES ALOFT. TRYING TRIP FROM BIMA. DARWIN, April 12. (Received April 12, at 6.50 p.m.) Scott left at 7 o’clock this morning in perfect weather for Cammooweal, 1100 miles distant. Interviewed before his departure Scott said he thinks his record will be beaten in a year or two, as flying methods and facilities improve. He will heartily congratulate the man who does it. For himself, he found it a “devilish hard job.” One needs, perfection in machine, weather, and luck. Amy Johnson had great heart to make the flight. He prefers the Gipsy Moth, as he can get spares. All-metal machines are best for arduous flights. The plane’s clock, which has been twice to England on aeroplanes, was presented to the landlady of the Hotel Victoria, who also possesses Hinkler’s clock. Scott’s small baby’s gollywog, which was his mascot, goes Home again. He reckons the cost of the flight was about £ISOO, and he hopes about to clear expenses. There is little now in record breaking. The airman describes the last day’s flight from Bima as the most trying of the trip, as he had only just enough petrol, and the lon ".open-sea flight to Darwin was risky. Looking down he could see the shapes of sharks, and the time passed with leaden feet till the land loomed up, and the strain was over.

Just after Scott landed an aeroplane arrived from Daly Waters, with a couple of Aviation Department surveyors, who, when they heard of the stranger’s arrival, inquired: “Who’s Scott?” Scott enlightened them. A GREAT FEAT. KINGSFORD SMITH’S PRAISE. MELBOURNE, April 11. Wing-commander Kingsford Smith sent a telegram conveying his heartiest congratulations: He enthusiastically praised Scott’s feat, which he described as a great piece of work. SCOTT’S FEAT APPLAUDED. KINGSFORD SMITH’S DESIRE. SYDNEY, April 12. (Received April 12 at 5.5 p.m.) Air circles in Australia applaud Scott’s performance. Sir Keith Smith declares it a triumph for skill, endurance, and ground organisation. Kingsford Smith, who is at present carrying passengers from Melbourne to Tasmania in the veteran Southern Grose, says he would welcome an opportunity to recapture the record, but business engagements will probably prevent him from doing so. A Darwin message states that Scott, on leaving for Brisbane, \ 'll proceed slowly. He will not indulge in any more record-breaking for the present.

SCOTT’S NATIONALITY. “PURE ENGLISH.” LONDON, April 10. “ Charles is pure English, body and soul,” Scott’s father declared in reply to Mr Scullin’s claim that Scott was an Australian. MRS SCOTT’S JOY. THE AVIATOR’S CAREER. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 10. Mrs Scott (wife of the aviator) and her little daughter, who are staying near London, were overjoyed by to-day’s news after many days of anxious strain. Scott is a Londoner. He was at Westminster School. He is over sis feet in height. When he was in the Royal Air Force he was the heavy-weight boxing champion in the force. His plane is of 120 h.p. It is a Gipsy Moth, and is of standard make except for extra petrol storage. Throughout the flight the engine, which is of the same type as that used by Kingsford Smith, behaved perfectly. SYDNEY, April 11. In February, 1930, Scott established a Brisbane-Molbourne record for a light aeroplane. He had a narrow escape from death in 1028, when he flew into a hill in the lofty ranges in South Australia while attempting to fly from Adelaide to Longreach in one day. The plane caught fire and was destroyed. Scott suffered a broken jaw and other injuries. He walked a mile to the nearest farmhouse. His mechanic, George Nutson, was killed. Scott had piloted Air-marshal Salmond 3000 miles over Australia in seven days, and was about to return to Queensland when the crash occurred. EDITORIAL EULOGIES. LONDON, April 11. (Received April 12,.at 7.50 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph says; “It is as a skilful and brave adventurer that we salute Mr Scott. A solo flight is a test of navigation skill, but these long distance flights still have an air of high adventure, rather than experiments in the science of aerial navigation.” The Times comments: “These young airmen and airwomen who set out quietly, sometimes alone, are lineal descendants of the old-time explorers and

merchant adventurers whose daring contempt of danger enlarged the bounds of this island till it became the centre of a world-wide Empire, but theirs is always a peaceful mission, not to add possessions but to bring the commonwealth of British nations nearer to the Mother Land and to each other.”