THREE DAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22102, 4 November 1933, Page 15

THREE DAYS

LONDON TO SYDNEY AIR EXPERTS’ VIEW. (From Odr Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 26. With the completion of Mr C. P. T. Ulm’s remarkable flight from London to Wyndham, and with the memory of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s record ,still fresh in their minds, people are wondering what the future holds in store. Referring to the time.likely to be taken by the winner of the centenary air race to Melbourne next year, the chief of the air staff, Air-commodore S. J. Goble, said: “ I think two and a-half to three days will win the race.” Sir Charles Kingsford Smith said ho thought the route could be covered in three and a-half days.

“ With aeroplane engines in their present state of development it is possible for the flight from London to Sydney to be made within three days, allowing for night flying and relief pilots,” said Flight-lieutenant S. J. Moir, president of the New South Wales Aero Club. “ The aerial distance between London and Sydney is about 12,000 miles, according to flight reckoning. There are already several reliable makes of aeroplanes which are consistently cruising at 250 miles an hour and are capable of up to 280 rind 290 miles under favourable weather conditions. A pilot flying solo could make Sydney from London in one of these machines flying only 10 hours per day, giving 14 hours out of each 24 for. attention to the engine and rest and sleep. “ Assuming that the weather conditions were not favourable, and that head, instead of following, winds were encountered, then flying 10 hours daily at 250 miles an hour would give a daily journey of 3000 miles, thus bringing Sydney within four days of London. But assuming the same machine was flown with relief pilots, with ample provision for fuelling on the journey, it would be possible for 22 hours daily to be flown, which would give a daily distance of from 5500 to 6000 miles according to the weather and wind conditions. With favourable conditions and ordinary pilot's ‘luck’ the journey to Sydney could be accomplished within from 48 to 50 hours from London. This is not a fantastical estimate, as these fast times are being maintained over established routes at the present time. Four years ago I stated that a schedule easy of accomplishment would be seven days from London to Sydney. The recent flights of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr Ulm have shown how easily such a service could be established now. There will almost certainly be a four days’ flight from London to Sydney in the near future.”