AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21993, 30 June 1933, Page 8

AVIATION

AUSTRALIA TO ENGLAND MR ULM REACHES KARACHI (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) KARACHI, June 28. Mr Ulm landed at 8.20 to-night after a most pleasant non-stop flight of 15 hours from Calcutta. He proposes to leave for Aleppo at 6 o’clock to-morrow morning. THE HOP TO CAIRO. KARACHI, June 29. (Received June 29, at 7 p.ra.) Mr Ulm departed for Cairo „at 6.30 this morning. Mr Ulm. is hopeful of reaching Cairo at 10 o’clock in the morning and arriving in London on Saturday evening. The engines are working perfectly. FAITH IN AUSTRALIA. OBJECT OF THE FLIGHT. \ At 11.25 a.m. on June 21, the giant monoplane Faith in Australia took off from Richmond Aerodrome, Sydney, to fly non-stop to Derby, W.A., as the first hop of a flight from Sydney to England. ; Although loaded with 850 gallons of motor spirit, wireless equipment, etc., the machine took off in 45 seconds after a run of approximately 900 yards. A large crowd, including officials of the Vacuum Oil Company, who have arranged petrol supplies on the route, had gathered to say “ au revoir ” to the crew. The outstanding object of the flight is to demonstrate that machines capable of carrying mails between Australia and Singapore can be built locally, and that such machines would meet the most stringent regulations of the Air Ministry respecting air-worthiness. The first hop to Derby was approximately 2100 miles, and the second stage was to Rangoon, a distance of approximately 3100 miles. Mr Ulm hopes to complete the journey between Australia and England within eight days. Faith in Australia is the biggest monoplane in Australia. It is fitted with three Wright Whirlwind J-0 engines, each developing 240 h.p. Ten tanks to hold a total of 600 gallons are fitted into the wing, two, each holding 260 gallons, in the cabin, and one under the pilots’ seats to hold 110 gallons. Thus the machine has, a total capacity of 1240 gallons, giving a range of 3800 miles. This is the equivalent of three crossings of the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand without refuelling. Maximum speed is 126 m.p.h. and cruising speed about 105 m.p.h. The tanks in the fuselage are so shaped as to give free access by a narrow walk’-way between the pilots’ cock-pit and the wireless and navigating compartments. This allows the pilots to take turns at resting in a specially prepared sleeping bag which can be placed between the tanks or on the cabin floor;> Many ingenious ways have been adopted to minimise the total load, one of the most interesting being the elimination of impulse starters on the motors, consequently it is necessary to swing the “props” by hand. For this purpose a light, portable folding trestle is carried, of sufficient height to enable a member of the crew to reach the propellers. The nearest ground to Sydney providing a sufficiently long run-way for full load tests was located at Forbes, New South Wales, and these very necessary tests were conducted there recently. A run-way of approximately 2000 yards was available. The machine lifted a total weight of 15,9331 b, of which 81761 b was petrol and oil. The machine took off at 75 m.p.h. after travelling 1200 _ yards. These figures are said to constitute a record for Australia.

In addition to Mr C. T. P. UJm (pilot and commander) the crew consists of Mr G. U. (Scotty) Allan, wireless operator, and Captain P. 6. Taylor, navigator, but in addition to thejr specialised jobs on this trip, the two latter are acting as relief pilots. The wireless apparatus permits of both short and long wave transmission and reception, so that the machine should be in constant touch with wireless receiving stations on all stages of the route.

PLANE FORCED DOWN AT SEA.

SEARCHING FOR OVERDUE \ VESSEL.

SYDNEY, June 29

While searching for the Christina Fraser the amphibian Cutty Sark was forced down at sea 30 miles south of Gabo Island. Those aboard were Pilot R. Jenkins and his wife, also a Daily Telegraph representative and a photographer. They were rescued by the Norwegian motor ship Varanger after drifting for an hour. The machine struck the sea with great force and sprang a leak. Heavy seas over the plane. The cabin was filling rapidly when the Varanger’s boat reached the machine, which was salvaged. SIR KINGSFORD SMITH. FURTHER FLIGHTS PLANNED. SYDNEY, June 20. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith states that he will leave for England by steamer at the end of July, and then fly to Australia in a Percival Gull cabin monoplane. He will be in Auckland in time for the Christmas festivities. He will fly to New Zealand in the Southern Cross, remaining for at least three months. BRITISH PLANES FOR AUSTRIA. FRONTIER PATROL WORK. VIENNA, June 28. (Received June 29, at 10 p.m.) The Government has bought or leased five high speed aeroplanes of British make for frontier patrol.