BIG FIELD LIKELY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22397, 19 October 1934, Page 9

BIG FIELD LIKELY

THE CENTENARY AIR RACE STRICT REGULATIONS (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, October 17. Both the Mollisons and Fitzmaurice declare that the race regulations will defeat their own object by decreasing the range. Mr Mollison said that his machine may be forced down in the middle of the Bay of Bengal because the too strict regulations would prevent the carrying of a full load of petrol, and would also compel the carriage of emergency and safety equipment which would further reduce the range, I No. 04 (Quertremare) and Gilman and Baines arc expected to-morrow morning, leaving a maximum field of 21Woods, despite a drastic reduction In tankage is still 80 pounds overweight, and, as the range is already below 1000 miles, Woods has little hope of winning the Speed Race., ADJUSTMENTS TO MACHINES LONDON, October 17. The Australian Press Association correspondent at Mildenhall says that the gale has subsided and has been replaced by steady rain, the bad visibility offering little opportunity for trial flights. Competitors to-day were busy adjusting their machines, for several were found to bp over the permissible weight. No. 6 (Turner and Pangborn) was several hundred pounds overweight owing to the change from the petrol with which it was weighted. Apparently through «a variation in the calculations of the constructors of No. 58 with the official test, which found no pronounced overweight, Stack’s range is understood to be reduced from 1500 miles to 1000 miles. Melrose was also overweight, consequently a number of competitors are unable accurately to. state the range pending a reduction in weight in compliance with official instructions. _ Roscoe Turner will carry a rubber raft, claimed to bb inflatable in 50 seconds, which will carry the whole crew of three. -He said he would probably have to seal three petrol tanks empty in order to conform to the regulations.

The Daily Mail says that Turner stated that, if he was required further to reduce the petrol supply, he would fly as a non-competitor “to show everyone how the course could be flown.”

FRENCH PLANE SCRATCHED PARIS, October IT. The Bleriot plane passed the official test, and, Challe piloting, achieved 190 miles per hour, but later, landing at Le Bourget, en route to Mildenhall, smashed the undercarriage and immediately scratched from the race. BAD WEATHER ON ROUTE SINGAPORE, October 17. The Alor Star aerodrome, a checking point in the Air Race, is still in very bad condition. Heavy rains are still falling throughout Malaya. Rangoon and Bangkok, also checking points, had heavy rains, and cyclones are feared in the Bay of Bengal. Alor Star and Penang are not expected to be safe at the week-end. even if the weather abates.