THE AIR RACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22392, 13 October 1934, Page 11

THE AIR RACE

THE FIELD REDUCED NO ITALIANS COMPETING (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, October 11. It is reported from Eome that Italy is not participating in the Centenary Air Eace. Meanwhile British competitors' arrangements are progressing well. Mr Mollison intends flying via the Balkans and Turkey, Mustapha Kemal having just permitted him to fly over Turkey, which he previously refused. The New Zealander, J. K. Baines, will accompany Gilman, and H. C. Walker will accompany M'Gregor. KINGSFORD SMITH'S PLIGHT _____ [From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 6. Those who had closely followed the many misfortunes of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith from the time he announced his intention to compete in the Centenary Air Race from London to Melbourne are not surprised at his definite announcement that he has withdrawn from the contest. Right from the start it would seem that the fates have been against him. In the first place he rather disappointed many of his admirers when he decided that he must have an American • machine if he was to have any chimce of success. This probably mitigated against the success of his appeal for public support, but when he made it clear that only an American machine could hope for success in such a race he found a Melbourne man willing to advance him the necessary money in the hope that his presence in the field woald add greatly to the interest in the race. Australians s|ill regard Sir Charles ns the best flyer in the world, and they were anxious that he should have at least another chance to prove that they were right. When Sir Charles set out from Sydney for London early last Saturday it was hoped that his long period of uncertainty had at last ended. However, he was due for a further~affd final disappointment when the cowling in the nose of his fast plane became seriously damaged and he had to return to Sydney for repairs. The making of a new cowling was n bigger job than he imagined it would be. As a matter of fact, it was the biggest spinning job ever attempted or completed in Australia, aud as he was unable to resume his flight to London before Saturday he was given but one week to be in England in order to comply with the conditions of the race. In view of the severe strain that would be placed on the plane during the race he deemed it inadvisable to put the machine to such a test beforehand, and he explained later that he had no option but to withdraw. Both Sir Charles and hla co-pilot, Captain Taylor, were naturally downcast at the disappointing outcome of months of preparation, expense and planning. Sir Charles said he realised fully his obligations to his backers, and he would make every effort to repay them at the earliest possible moment. That, he said, would necessitate the sale of the machine in America, as a commercial license was unprocurable in Australia. It was proposed, he said, to give the machine a thorough overhaul before he would make any attempt to break the record which, it was expected, would be made during the great race across the world. It was explained that Sir Charles's first date 1 of leaving Sydney allowed time to cope with such contingencies as a damaged cowling, but the weeks spent in endeavouring to straighten out the very technical situation with regard to the certificate of airworthiness had absorbed the whole of the spare time that was left.

Experts support the decision of Sir Charles to withdraw from the race. It was humiliating, they say, but wise.