ENGLISH PLANE TAKES LEAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22399, 22 October 1934, Page 7

ENGLISH PLANE TAKES LEAD

ALLAHABAD, October 21. (Received Oct. 22, at 2,15 a.m.) No. 34 (Scott and Campbell-Black, England) have arrived. Scott said they had a splendid trip. There was a head wind towards India, but afterwards a following wind. Both' were tired but determined to proceed within half an hour. MOLLISONS STRIKE TROUBLE KARACHI, October 21. (Received Oct. 22, at 1.30 a.m.) The Mollisons left for Allaluibad at 11.15 (local time), but returned at 11.25 owing to the retractable undercarriage being jammed. Mechanics are jacking up the plane, and believe that the defect is a minor one, involving only a short delay. DELAY OF TWELVE HOURS KARACHI, October 21. (Received Oct. 22, at 2 a.m.) After working for two hours, the mechanics righted the Mollisons’ plane, but the mishap involved at least 12 hours’ delay. Mollison, fearing that he would not reach Allahabad in daylight if he took off immediately, has postponed his start till 3 o’clock. DUTGH PLANE LEAVES KARACHI KARACHI, October 21. (Received Oct. 22, at 2 a.m.)

No. 44 (Parmentier and Moll) arrived at 14.20 (local time) after an excellent trip, and left directly for Allahabad. Parmentier said that No. 6 (Geysendorffer and Asjes) was following close on their heels. GOOD WEATHER AT SINGAPORE SINGAPORE, October 20. (Received Oct. 21, at 8 p.m.) The weather conditions for the air race are generally favourable in this area, and are expected to continue so. MISS COCHRAN'S EXPERIENCES LONDON, October 20. (Received Oct. 21, at 8 p.m.) Fitzmaurice flew to Croydon from Mildenhall. He is endeavouring to obtain an American Embassy observer to witness a full load landing test and, if successful, he will leave for Melbourne, the flight to be a private venture, on November. 22; Otherwise he will fly to Dublin for a landing test. In any case he hopes to proceed to Melbourne on October 24 at the latest. The Marquess of Londonderry's message is addressed to Sir Keith Murdoch, Melbourne. Inquiries have failed to substantiate the impression that films were placed in Stack's plane. Miss Cochran telephoned to a friend in London that she had encountered much bad weather. The stabiliser froze and refused to act, and, with other minor disorders, kept Wesley Smith occupied to such an extent that she piloted twothirds of the way. WEATHER IN FRANCE WORSE PARIS, October 20. (Received Oct. 21, at 8 p.m.) The weather is becoming worse and visibility almost throughout France is under 100 yards. Parer, at Abbeville, was forced to dismantle the radiator and take it to a factory to enable repairs to be made. He hopes to start at dawn. THE NEW ZEALANDERS MARSEILLES, October 20. , (Received Oct. 21, at 8 p.m.) Walker and M'Gregor, before leaving for Rome, declared it was most difficult to get their bearings when crossing France. They passed over Paris, but were unable to see it. WOODS OUT OF SPEED RACE

ATHENS, October 20. (Received Oct. 21, at 8.30 p.m.) Woods has been delayed while the batteries have been recharged. He says he is out of the Speed Race,' but will continue in the Handicap. Parmentier says he flew 190 miles an hour. The passengers are enjoying the trip immensely. Woods and • Bennett's plane was damaged in landing. They may have to await repairs. Woods is hopeful of resuming to-morrow. EARLIER MESSAGES HANDICAPS DECLARED LONDON, October 19. The following handicaps have been issued for the Air Race, based on the Great Circle distances between each checking point, totalling 12,314 miles:— Racing number, 58 r handicap, scr; estimated handicap speed, 184.44 m.p.h.; estimated flying time, 66hr 45min 36sec. ~..'•

108 hr 43rain 48sec. The handicap section will be decided on the net flying time—that is, the gross flying time less the handicap. The time spent at the checking or control points ■will not be included as flying time. BEFORE THE START LONDON, October 19. Walker and MacGregor announced that their first hop will be to Marseilles. Hewett and Kay's first hop will be to Rome, while Cathcart-Jones, Fitzmauricc and Scott will attempt Bagdad. Gilman told the Sun-Herald Service that he will be able to compete in the speed race. " Apparently I was excluded from the handicap because some of the competitors complained about the time extension allowed me," he said. Crowds throughout the day poured into MiJdenhall, which is a modern Babel, almost every tongue in Europe being heard, as not only the competitors, but experts and sightseers, come

from many countries. Enthusiasm in the crowded outskirts of Mildenhall is already reminiscent of a test match. The officials have arranged to serve over 1000 breakfasts, while coffee stalls and ambulance stations dot the environs of the aerodrome. Motor bus companies for 50 miles around are running special services throughout the night. It is expected that 20,000 people will attend the start. Wright, an American competitor, whose rollicking spirit has been one of the refreshing features of a strenuous week, gave the Prince of Wales much entertainment. The Prince <«f Wales, attracted by his tiny machine, asked him to fly it. Wright promptly invited the Prince to come up with him, to which the Prince replied: " I'd like to, but "and shrugged his shoulders. He was delighted with the display of hairraising aerobatics. Wright later told the Australian Press Association: "I told the Prince I was the same age as himself, and that I had been waiting 40 years to see him. He got a good laugh out of that." ROYALTY VISITS DROME LONDON, October 19. The Prince of Wales arrived at Mildenhall by air from Windsor. He inspected all the machines and shook bauds with the pilots. Their Majesties unexpectedly arrived later. They inspected the planes and watched with the Prince of Wales a thrilling exhibition of aerobatics by Roscoe Turner, who was so daring that he kept everyone gasping. The Queen asked the Mollisons to convey messages to the Duke of Gloucester upon their arrival in Melbourne. Catheart-Johes's plane has been repaired and made a test flight. It is certain to start. Oilman and Baines have overcome their financial difficulties and are certain starters. "Would you like to go with us, sir," said Mrs Amy Mollison to the King as his Majesty's expressed admiration of Mr and Mrs Mollison's plane, adding: " We shall soon be flying in fine, warm weather." The King smilingly declined, saying: "I'm afraid I am getting past that sort of thing." The Prince of Wales, introduced to Woods, inquired how the preparations were progressing. Woods, who earlier was a victim of many official delays, bluntly told the Prince that he thought the people of England very slow. Asked how he found them, the Prince shrewdly replied: " I don't know them yet." A visitor to Mildenhall to-day was Lord Londonderry, the Secretary of State for. Air, who flew to the aerodrome and talked with the competitors. The latest weather reports indicate favourable conditions for the start of the race, with some clouds. The competitors are likely to have the assistance of following winds on the first stage, both on the great circle course and the southern route alone the Mediterranean.

SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LONDON, October 10. (Received Oct. 21, at 5.5 p.m.) There was a sensational development late to-night, when the committee announced that it refused to allow the Bellanca to compete with a full, all up weight—namely, 80001 b—and it would only be permitted to fly with 54001 b. It appears that the committee objected to Fitzmaurice carrying a full load op the American' Government's airworthiness certificate, which was granted for 54001 b full weight. Fitzmaurice was also granted an American restricted certificate for 80001 b full pay load. The committee previously discussed the position in secret, two hours after which it cabled to the American Government asking whether it was prepared to authorise the plane to fly at a higher limit. The American Government replied that it could not issue such a certificate. The committee explained that it must abide by the regulations requiring competitors to produce a certificate of airworthiness for a full load. Fitzmaurice protested against this decision of the stewards. Fitzmaurice and Mr Bonar, a member of the Irish Hospitals' Trust, later lengthily discussed the position. Fitzmaurice points out that, if he has to cut down his petrol to meet the embargo, it will reduce the range from 3300 miles to at most 1500, completely upsetting his arrangements to make Bagdad non-stop. If the committee adheres to its decisions it means that Fitzmaurice must decide between withdrawal or flying with a small load. FITZMAURICE WITHDRAWS LONDON, October 19. (Received Oct. 21, at 5.5 p.m.) The stewards dismissed Fitzmanrice's appeal. Fitzmaurice announced his withdrawal from the race. It is strongly rumoured that Fitzmaurice may fly to Australia to-morrow with a full load to demonstrate what his plane can do. Even the American critics admit that Fitzmaurice has no reason to expect to be allowed to race under a special certificate of airworthiness, whereas other competitors of all nationalities have had their loads drastically reduced.

A CHANGE OF PLANS •'■■'> LONDON, October 21. (Received Oct. 21, at 10 p.m.) Fitzmaurice, after a conversation with Air Ministry and Aero Club officials, now intends to go to Dublin on October 21 for an airworthiness certificate. NO DISCRIMINATION SHOWN October 19. (Received Oct. 21, at 5.5 p.m.) There was an unprecedented sensation in the press tent when, as an Air Ministry official was reading the statement of the Aero Club's position, Mr O'Sheehan, the well-known announcer for the Irish sweep, burst in dramatically and held up his hand for silence. He shouted: "I regret to have to state that, owing to the restrictions the committee has imposed, the Irish Swoop has been obliged to withdraw." After the withdrawal of the machine, It was stated by the committee that no discrimination had been exercised against Fitzmaurice. The rules of the race were designed for the safety of competitors ancT must he upheld. The Daily Herald says Fitzmaurice said: "I shall race on my own will unofficially and show the other competitors the way to Australia. I refuse to have my chances killed by a ridiculous last-minute ruling." The fuelling of the machines began shortly after midnight.

63, 35min 24sec, 182.83 m.p.h., 67far 21min. *, 34, 35min 24sec, 182.83 m.p.h.; 67hr 21min. 19, 36min, 182.81 m.p.h., 67hr 21mfn 36sec. 36, 2hr 31min 48sec, 177.71 m.p.h., 69hr 17min 24sec. 44, 6hr 31min 12sec, 168.03 m.p.h., 73hr 16min 48sec. 33, 13hr llmin 24sec, 154.02 m.p.h., 79hr 57min. 15, 17hr, lOmin 48sec, 146.68 m.p.h., 83hr 56min 24sec. 35, 19hr 5min 24sec, 143.43 m.p.h., 85hr 51min. 14, 20hr Slmin 36see, 140.54 m.p.h., 87hr 37min 12sec. 60, 21hr Omin, 140.10 m.p.h., 87hr 54min. 2, 35hr 22'min 12sec, 120.57 m.p.h., 102hr 7min 48sec. 31, 37hr 27min 36sec, 119.29 m.p.h., 103hr 13min 12see. 47, 39hr 54min 36sec, 115.44 m.p.h., 106hr 40min 12sec. 16, 40hr 58min 12scc, 114.32 m.p.h., 107hr 43min 48sec. 7, 42hr 2min 24sec, 113.18 m.p.h.,